Bell uses IoT to boost production at Canadian winery

Canadian telecommunications giant Bell has teamed up with BeWhere Technologies and Huawei to kit out a winery with connected technology.

Bell, BeWhere and Huawei are currently implementing an automated IoT system at the Henry of Pelham vineyard in St Catherines, Ontario in a bid to transform planning and sustainability. The partners announced the news with the support of Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Bell has provided the winery with a range of wireless environmental sensors, connected to its LTE-M network. These sensors monitor temperature and water levels, prevent vine disease and improve the health of plants, the firm said.

With this project, the winery will be able to lower its operating costs and make use of years of data gathering and insights.

IoT to the rescue

Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, commended the project. “Ontario’s technology sector is leading the way when it comes to developing solutions that can promote sustainability, grow our economy and create opportunities for our people,” she said.

“This new IoT pilot shows the innovation that can be achieved when internationally recognised companies like Huawei partner with world-class Ontario businesses like Bell Mobility, BeWhere and Henry of Pelham and leverage the incredible talent of our province’s highly skilled workers.”

Matthew Speck, owner of Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, said that there are a number of challenges faced by vineyard owners, but that IoT technology can help them overcome them.

“Unexpected adverse weather conditions can impact quality, yield and mortality of our crops. Bell’s solution will increase the density of our environmental monitoring,” he said.

“We’ll be able to automatically act on temperature inversions by turning on fans when temperatures change, ensuring the health of our grapes and an optimal product for our customers.

“The solution is not only economical and scalable, it gives growers a good view of the vines’ temperature needs to improve quality and drive sustainability.”

Big possibilities

Claire Gillies, vice president of Bell Mobility, said: “Bell’s leadership in LTE-M wireless technology and in the IoT space is a result of our continued investment and innovation in broadband communications networks and services.

“The LTE-M network enables smart sensors to collect and send data over a wider range and with much better battery life – a perfect fit for Henry of Pelham, wineries and growers across the country and many other industries.”

Connected technology is a big focus for Bell. In June, it unveiled plans to launch an LTE-M wireless network to cater for the growing amount of devices being connected to the internet.

LTE-M can support IoT technologies such as smart city services, smart metering, home automation, weather and environmental monitoring, asset tracking, supply chain management and security monitoring. It offers low power consumption and better coverage.