1. and more connected, and
we are becoming more and
more connected through the
Internet. It won’t be long
before all our devices are
connected,” says Brent. “5G
will give us a lot more oppor-
tunity to integrate big data.
Staying synchronized also
allows us to see the bigger
picture of our operations.”
The road so far
Through the years, a
number of generations
in wireless technology have
come and gone. With each
iteration came faster speeds
and increased functionality.
About six years ago,
Verizon was the first to
introduce 4G LTE, which
offered even higher speeds,
more capacity for data,
and greater security. As 5G
evolves, the company says it
will include up to 50 times
the throughput of its current
4G network with the ability
to handle exponentially more
Internet-connected devices.
According to Roger
HIGHER SPEEDS AHEAD CELLULAR COMPANIES
RACE TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY AND SPEEDS.
H
aving farmed for 41 years, Doug Applegate knows
what it’s like to adjust to ever-changing technology.
Although the baby boomer didn’t grow up with it, tech-
nology has become an integral part of life on the farm.
An early adopter and innovator, the Oakland, Iowa,
farmer also works to develop technology-focused products that
make life on the farm a bit easier.
Working with sons Brent and Luke, the trio developed
Mixmate, a portable chemical blending system that streamlines
the mixing process. The system can also be configured to fit
your needs. For example, electric valves can be added to the
manual system to completely automate the mixing process.
Controlled with a rugged Android tablet, the Mixmate
app goes beyond mixing; it gives you greater connectivity.
Automated records maximize field time and accuracy. Data is
securely backed up in the cloud.
With any new technology comes the need for greater speed.
“We are always using
what we have for
bandwidth,” says
Doug.
Currently using
4G LTE, which is
the latest high-speed
technology, the
Applegates are in
favor of faster 5G
technology being de-
veloped by companies
like Verizon.
“Our equipment
is becoming more
Photography: GreyCarnation
Gurnani, Verizon’s chief
information and technology
architect, 5G is no longer a
dream of the distant future.
“We feel a tremendous sense
of urgency to push forward
on 5G,” he says.
Aiming to launch field
trials in 2016, Verizon says
it will have 5G market trials
in 2017, which is three years
earlier than other companies
targeting this technology.
There are several reasons
why others say 5G will
take longer to materialize.
One reason is 4G still has a
number of years left before
networks become overly
congested. Another reason
is no one has really defined
what 5G will look like.
In addition, 5G has some
unusual requirements.
Much of the early testing
has been done in airwave
bands at such high fre-
quency and at such short
range that carriers would
have to deploy thousands
of small cells in buildings
just to broadcast the signal.
It’s also why many see 5G
as complementary to 4G
rather than a replacement.
With so many companies
vying for your business,
Verizon’s move to be first
out of the gate with 5G to
separate itself from the rest
of the pack may be a wise
decision. It’s a move the
Applegates see as a win for
their operation.
“We see the improved
connectivity leading to more
real-time decision making in
the field,” says Doug.
May 2016 | Successful Farming at Agriculture.com Bonus
While it may be a few years before
5G becomes a reality, it has the
potential to completely change
the way you interact with wireless
devices.
“We see the
improved
connectivity
leading to
more real-
time decision
making in
the field.”
– Doug Applegate
t c ne h o ol g y
By Rachel Lium