Wi-Fi plays a central role in America’s daily operations, from powering personal connectivity in the home to facilitating digital workplaces, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and much more. Without adequate spectrum for unlicensed use, America faces the possibility of Wi-Fi congestion, which would severely deteriorate the ability of small businesses across the country to operate. Not only that, but America will lose out on significant economic growth, given how many critical sectors rely on Wi-Fi.
Precision agriculture, the use of advanced technologies and real-time data to optimize farming, is transforming how America’s farms operate. Wi-Fi is the invisible infrastructure that makes this revolution possible.
Autonomous equipment & real-time monitoring
Wi-Fi enables automation and real-time monitoring across sprawling fields and facilities.
- Drones and autonomous equipment rely on robust wireless connections to navigate terrain, coordinate with other systems, and perform precise tasks.
- These technologies allow farmers to cover more ground and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
- Smart sensors connected via Wi-Fi also offer a new level of environmental insight.
- These devices deliver up-to-the-minute information from soil moisture levels to plant health indicators.
- As a result, farmers can fine-tune irrigation schedules, adapt to changing weather patterns, and, most importantly, improve crop yield while conserving resources.
Smarter supply management
Wi-Fi is also reshaping agricultural supply management.
- Tools like RFID tags and real-time location systems help farmers track equipment, monitor inventory, and oversee harvests with greater precision.
- By transmitting data in real time, Wi-Fi empowers farmers to reduce waste and optimize storage.
- Critically, it also helps them act quickly during high-stakes moments during the growing season.
Stronger connections mean stronger yields
But to power these innovations, farms need more than just hardware – they need wireless spectrum.
- Without adequate access to shared or unlicensed spectrum, Wi-Fi networks can become congested and unreliable, especially in rural areas.
Supporting America’s farmers means supporting the connectivity that drives innovation. Expanding access to unlicensed or shared spectrum is essential to building a future of sustainable, tech-enabled agriculture – one that boosts productivity and supports rural communities.
To learn more about the important role that Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum play in the broadband ecosystem, visit NCTA.com.
