Ericsson to help out stumbling blocks impeding access to mobile connectivity and widespread adoption of precision agriculture, with implementing 5G wireless connectivity.

5G is going to speed-up the data collecting process and monitoring along with sensor networks, livestock monitoring and agricultural drones. As a leading vendor and an authority in the wireless telecommunications industry, Ericsson is in a position to help out on having access to the high-speed networks through 5G in smart agriculture sector. By realizing smart agriculture completely depends heavily on high network speeds, ultra-low latency, and broadband that the 5G wireless connectivity can provide at a lower cost to the rural farmers. Why 5G, because the networking that enables smarter data communications between the farm management systems and the IoT devices like autonomous vehicles, sensors, drones and robots. These devices help in gathering and transmitting the farm’s data to the cloud-based facilities. The company is actively working on providing readily accessible 5G wireless network connections especially to the rural and to the agricultural communities. The high-speed 5G connectivity enables the IoT devices to perform a wide array of labour-intensive farming and ranching activities. Without this wireless high-speed network, smart agriculture can’t be employed efficiently and even the productivity is also hampered because automated solutions that depend on the internet and GPS can’t be accessed.

According to the research report, “Global Smart Agriculture Market Outlook, 2029” published by Bonafide Research, the market is expected to cross USD 36.82 Billion market size by 2029, increasing from USD 18.51 Billion In 2023. The global market is forecasted to grow with 12.17% CAGR by 2024-29. The company Ericsson has also contributed on customized 4G/5G Radio Access Network (RAN) to the North Carolina-based PAWR program AERPAW, which focuses its research on the convergence of 5G technology. It has been also working in autonomous vehicles equipped with 5G technologies that can collect real-time images and videos from farms. This can help the farmers to identify and eliminate weeds and plant diseases. It has been researched that about 62.5% farmers use technology for farming across the globe. The growing use of IoT (Internet of Things) and AI is gradually increasing the demand for smart agriculture market within the farmers. Today farmers are getting familiar with the technologies and the new gadgets and improving their farming processes. However, the improvements are also influencing other farmers to adopt the new techniques of farming. On the other hand, the smart agriculture system can save up to 85% in water consumed as the agriculture consumes almost half of water resources around the world. They also report up to 40% increase in crop yield, while reducing the cost of fertilization and chemical treatment, and up to 60% less losses resulting from human error.

North America is the leading region in the global smart agriculture market, driven by advanced farming technologies, high adoption rates of precision agriculture, and strong government support for sustainable agricultural practices. The United States and Canada are at the forefront, leveraging IoT-based solutions, AI-driven analytics, and automation to optimize farming efficiency and productivity. The region benefits from well-established infrastructure, a high level of investment in agriculture technology (AgTech), and strong collaborations between tech companies and farmers. Key innovations such as GPS-guided tractors, drone-based crop monitoring, smart irrigation systems, and AI-powered analytics have significantly enhanced yield management while reducing resource wastage. Additionally, climate change concerns and water scarcity issues have accelerated the adoption of smart irrigation and precision livestock monitoring solutions. Government initiatives, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s precision farming programs and subsidies for smart farming equipment, further drive market expansion. The presence of major players specializing in sensor-based monitoring, automated machinery, and cloud-based farm management platforms strengthens North America’s leadership. While Europe and Asia-Pacific are rapidly advancing in smart agriculture, North America remains dominant due to technological superiority, high awareness, and strong investment in precision farming and automation.

The global smart agriculture market is categorized into various segments, each revolutionizing traditional farming methods with advanced technologies. Precision agriculture is the most widely adopted segment, utilizing GPS, IoT sensors, and AI-based analytics to enhance crop yield and resource efficiency. Precision fish farming incorporates automated feeding systems, water quality monitoring, and AI-driven fish health assessment, ensuring sustainable aquaculture. Smart greenhouse market focuses on automated climate control, sensor-based irrigation, and LED lighting solutions, optimizing plant growth while reducing water and energy consumption. Precision livestock monitoring involves wearable sensors, smart feeding systems, and health monitoring technologies, improving animal welfare and farm productivity. Lastly, precision forestry market employs drone-based mapping, automated tree planting, and AI-powered disease detection, ensuring sustainable forest management and timber production. The smart agriculture market is segmented based on offerings into hardware, software, and services. Hardware includes IoT sensors, drones, robotics, GPS devices, and automated irrigation systems that provide real-time data and automation in farming. Software solutions, such as farm management platforms, AI-driven analytics, and cloud-based decision-making tools, optimize farm operations. Services include consulting, installation, and maintenance of smart farming technologies, ensuring seamless adoption and efficiency. Together, these components drive precision, sustainability, and profitability in modern agriculture.