Smart Farming with LoRaWAN: Otto Wireless Solutions Brings Real-Time Precision Agriculture to Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa – 23 March 2026 – Otto Wireless Solutions, in partnership with Dragino and the ThingsEye.io platform, is introducing a complete LoRaWAN-based smart farming ecosystem to South Africa and the broader African market. This powerful solution enables farmers to move from traditional manual methods to data-driven, precision agriculture — even in remote areas with limited cellular coverage.

As African agriculture faces mounting pressure to increase yields while reducing water and input costs, LoRaWAN technology offers a game-changing alternative. With long-range coverage, multi-year battery life, and no SIM cards required, LoRaWAN is ideally suited for large-scale and smallholder farming across the continent.

Real-Time Monitoring for Better Decision Making

Dragino’s rugged LoRaWAN sensors, supported by Otto Wireless Solutions, allow farmers to monitor critical farm parameters in real time, including:

• Soil moisture, temperature, and conductivity

• Leaf moisture

• Weather conditions

• Water flow, pressure, and levels

This data feeds directly into the ThingsEye.io platform, which provides intuitive dashboards, automated alerts, historical analysis, and mobile access via Android and iOS apps. Farmers can view their entire operation remotely and make informed decisions on irrigation scheduling, nutrient management, and crop health.

Why LoRaWAN is Perfect for African Farms

• Long-range coverage (up to 10 km)

• Multi-year battery life with optional solar power

• Reliable performance in low-connectivity rural areas

• Scalable — one gateway can support hundreds of sensors

• Cost-effective deployment for both small and large farms

Comprehensive Dragino Sensor Range

Otto Wireless Solutions offers a full suite of Dragino LoRaWAN devices tailored for agriculture:

• Soil & Plant Health Sensors: SE01 (Soil Moisture, Temperature & Conductivity), SPH01 (Soil pH), SW01 (Soil Moisture), LMS01 (Leaf Moisture)

• Weather Sensors: WSC2 Weather Station and Temperature & Humidity Sensors

  

• Water Management: SW3L Water Flow Sensor, Water Level Sensors, and LT22222 Irrigation Control Switch

  

• LoRaWAN Gateways for reliable farm-wide connectivity

Proven Results, Local Support

Globally, Dragino-powered LoRaWAN deployments have delivered up to 22% water savings, improved crop yields, and significantly reduced labour and monitoring costs. These benefits are now available to South African and African farmers through Otto Wireless Solutions’ local expertise and support.

“Smart farming is no longer a luxury — it is becoming essential for sustainable agriculture in Africa,” said a spokesperson for Otto Wireless Solutions. “With Dragino’s robust sensors and the ThingsEye.io platform, we are empowering farmers to conserve resources, optimise productivity, and build a more resilient future.”

About Otto Wireless Solutions

Otto Wireless Solutions is a leading South African distributor and integrator of wireless IoT technologies. The company specialises in delivering reliable connectivity solutions for agriculture, mining, utilities, and industrial applications across Africa.

For more information or to place an order, contact:

Email: wireless@otto.co.za

Phone: +27 (0)11 791 1033

Website: www.otto.co.za