The widespread adoption of next-generation digital agriculture technologies in rural areas faces a critical challenge in the form of inadequate field-level connectivity. Traditional approaches to connecting people fall short in providing cost-effective solutions for many remote agricultural locations, exacerbating the digital divide. Current cellular networks, including 5G with millimeter wave technology, are urban-centric and struggle to meet the evolving digital agricultural needs, presenting a significant hurdle to rapid rural connectivity development.

In this paper, we explore alternative and cost-effective solutions that extend beyond conventional cellular networks. Our investigation encompasses innovative approaches such as follow-me drone data relay, fusion-based predictive beamforming, Long-Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), and edge computing. Notably, our study highlights the potential of LoRa technology in GPS data collection, showcasing extensive coverage, low power consumption, and cost-effectiveness, albeit with a limitation in data rate. Furthermore, we present the success of edge computing, as demonstrated in flagship projects such as ISOBlue and Avena. This technology effectively reduces data size, enabling decentralized, network-agnostic communication through opportunistic transmissions, thereby enhancing functionalities in digital agriculture.

By aggregating these research findings, we propose cloud-based LoRaWAN as a practical and low-cost solution for field-level connectivity in the near future. We evaluate scalability under three scenarios: cellular data for each gateway, point-to-point Wi-Fi established at specific locations, and agricultural broadband initiatives connecting farms to new or existing Wi-Fi services. Additionally, we address the agrosecurity aspect of on-farm LoRaWAN deployments, assessing sensor reconnection, gateway replacement, and cybersecurity threat response to ensure uninterrupted operations, particularly when automated devices are in use.

As we envision the future of digital agriculture, we anticipate a hybrid approach involving a tailored mix of telecommunication technologies, each customized for specific applications and reflecting a nuanced set of trade-offs. Our proposed cloud-based LoRaWAN solution stands out as a promising avenue for overcoming the connectivity challenges in rural areas, paving the way for the seamless integration of next-generation digital agriculture technologies.