Astrocast Participates in EU funded XGain Initiative; and Enables Croatian Aquaculture Project with SatIoT Water Monitoring

20 Mar 2023 14:04 CET

SatIoT enables remote oyster farms in Croatia to monitor water quality, in
European Union funded XGain programme. Initiative aims to reduce the digital
divide between urban and rural areas.

Lausanne, Switzerland, March 20, 2023. Astrocast, a leading global Satellite IoT
network operator, announces today that it is participating in the European Union
funded XGain initiative. Its Satellite IoT technology and network will be
deployed within an aquaculture project in Dalatia, Croatia to monitor water
quality within remote oyster farms.

The XGain project has been set up by the EU to foster the sustainable, balanced,
and inclusive development of rural, coastal and urban areas with technology. It
achieves this for suitable organisations and projects by providing relevant
stakeholders with access to a comprehensive inventory of smart XG, last-mile
connectivity and edge computing solutions, as well as appropriate assessment
methods.

The XGain project currently involves a consortium of 17 partners. This includes
Benco Baltic, which is responsible for driving the aquaculture project that
Astrocast is participating in. Further, the XGain programme provides those
involved with a Knowledge Facilitation Tool to draw on. This tool enables XGain
to facilitate business model development for participating organisations; and
supports the decision-making during the selection of an ecosystem of appropriate
technologies, to suit the various projects and initiatives for various
organisations. For example, selecting suitable connectivity and edge-processing
solutions for projects.

In Croatia, Astrocast will provide its expertise in SatIoT, along with access to
its communication modules, to support this aquaculture project. It will allow
key water parameters to be monitored at an oyster farm near Sibenik – and
showcase how data can be retrieved from devices – sensors – located in such
remote locations. The project also demonstrates how an extended network
infrastructure, supplemented by LoRaWAN and Satellite Communications can be used
to transmit data from offshore sensors to a central monitoring system.

It is important to point out, too, that the XGain initiative, and associated
projects, typically aim to address the connectivity inequalities of rural areas.
This sees them empower rural communities by providing increased access to
adequate enabling technologies. This aquaculture use case in Croatia
demonstrates the powerful need and use of SatIoT technology to benefit
organisations – highlighting the key potential that technology offers to improve
the economic and environmental performance within the agricultural and forestry
sectors too.

Fabien Jordan, CEO of Astrocast says: "Astrocast is excited to participate in
the XGain project and support this aquaculture development in Croatia. The
project focuses on providing farmers with technology tools to scale up their
activities, of which connectivity is more important than ever, as it can provide
them with the insights that they need about their projects, to operate them more
effectively. So, we are proud to contribute with our expertise and technology to
this important initiative. Especially as it aligns with our business values
too."

Martynas Velicka, Benco Baltic adds, "Benco Baltic is pleased to work with
Astrocast in the aquaculture use case in Croatia. We believe the use of SatIoT
technology will bring valuable insights into the water parameters of the oyster
farm and help improve its performance."

The XGain project began in September 2022 and will last for three years.
Astrocast's involvement in the project and support of this aquaculture use case
in Croatia underscores its commitment to providing satellite based IoT solutions
that help bridge the digital divide in rural areas.

– END –

ABOUT ASTROCAST
Astrocast SA operates a leading global nanosatellite IoT network, offering
services in industries such as Agriculture & Livestock, Maritime, Environment &
Utilities to name a few. The Astrocast network enables companies to monitor,
track, and communicate with remote assets from anywhere in the world. It relies
on superior L-band spectrum through a strategic alliance with Thuraya. In
partnership with Airbus, CEA/LETI and ESA, Astrocast developed Astronode S, an
ultra-low power and miniaturised module compatible with inexpensive L-band patch
antennas. Founded in 2014 by a renowned team of experts, Astrocast develops and
tests all its products in-house, from the satellites to the modules. Astrocast
is listed on Euronext Growth Oslo.

For more information visit astrocast.com

ABOUT BANCO BALTIC
BENCO Baltic is an engineering company specialising in developing and
implementing Smart Metering and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) solutions,
assisting clients in controlling, optimising and reducing energy costs to
improve energy efficiency in industrial companies.
BENCO, designs and implements unique solutions tailored to each client, creating
maximum value. Quality and flexibility are the main principles of our services.
In addition, the company is an authorised partner of AVAYA and specialises in
IT, PABX, and Call Center design, implementation, and maintenance. We provide
expert solutions to help clients achieve their business goals and objectives.
For more information visit: bencobaltic.eu

ABOUT XGAIN
XGain fosters a sustainable, balanced, and inclusive development of rural,
coastal, and urban areas by facilitating access to relevant stakeholders to a
comprehensive inventory of smart XG, last-mile connectivity and edge computing
solutions, and of related assessment methods.
For more information visit: xgain-project.eu or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter,
Facebook and YouTube.


Media Contact Astrocast
Fatima Vigil
media@astrocast.com

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