P.PSH.1359 - eSAT Global - Radio module and system for real-time remote monitoring and communications

Summary

What is the issue? Regional producers lack affordable, reliable connectivity for livestock tags and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, cellular coverage is patchy and existing satellite options are too expensive for large‑scale deployment.

 
Why/how did MLA address it? Through an MDC‑funded project, MLA supported eSAT to design a next‑generation, low‑SWaP, two‑way direct‑to‑GEO satellite module, integrate it into smart ear tags and IoT devices, and run end‑to‑end trials in Australia and abroad. 

What was the primary outcome? The project demonstrated robust, ubiquitous connectivity with ~99% message success (via ARQ), 87.1% average burst success for livestock tags (93.7% for IoT devices), and a path to commercialisation at a projected ~$15/year TCO per device.

Objectives

This project aimed to fundamentally lower the cost of farm‑wide IoT connectivity by: (1) developing the eSAT Module (modem, radio and processing) capable of ultra‑low‑power, two‑way messaging via existing GEO MSS satellites; (2) integrating the module into a smart livestock ear tag and two IoT prototypes (water level and soil moisture); and (3) building an end‑to‑end system from devices to satellite to cloud for field trials and performance modelling. Targets included a $40 GPS tag (by 2027), data from ~$4/device/year, and live animal and IoT device trials to validate performance, cost, and scalability for whole‑of‑herd adoption.

Key findings

Robust connectivity proven: Trials and modelling show ~99% Message Success Rate is achievable; observed Burst Success Rates averaged 87.1% (tags) and 93.7% (IoT devices).  

Compelling economics: Projected ~$15/year/device TCO (e.g., ~$7 platform/connectivity + $40 GPS tag amortised), enabled by ultra‑efficient narrowband design with messages priced around $4/year for ~10–20 locations/day.  
Low SWaP hardware validated: ~11×13×2.4 mm, ~0.65 g module integrated into a ~28 g tag; two‑way, low‑latency (typically <2 s) GEO links support alarms/geofencing and remote configuration.  

Energy learnings and fixes: Solar + supercapacitor design under‑performed during overcast trials (peaks ~13 msgs/day), but post‑trial improvements and budget modelling indicate >50 msgs/day feasible on typical winter days.

Benefits to industry

By closing the connectivity gap at ultra‑low cost, producers can move from sentinel devices to whole‑of‑herd tracking, enabling better grazing management, earlier health interventions, stronger traceability, and lower labour and mustering costs. 

Economic modelling cited in the report indicates that affordable LBS/IoT at scale could unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in cumulative benefits for red meat over a decade.

MLA action

MLA (via the MLA Donor Company) funded and has published the project to share validated findings with industry. 

Guided by the report’s recommendations, MLA can now use the results to inform new investments and adoption programs, work with solution providers on commercial pilots, and communicate practical guidance to producers as technology is readied for scale.

Future research

Commercial‑scale deployments with early adopters across diverse geographies (incl. lower satellite elevations) to validate reliability, costs, and TCO at scale.

Engineering refinements: optimise energy harvesting/storage, antenna placement, and firmware for multi‑year field life and lower power per message.

Ecosystem enablement: developer docs, reference designs, regulatory approvals, and partnerships with AgTech vendors to integrate the module into tags and sensors.