Manufacturing start-up Zetifi has officially opened the doors of its new East Wagga factory, with plans to deliver WiFi to some of Australia's most remote locations.
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The company makes solar-powered technology that can connect to existing internet providers or create a private WiFi connection via satellite to provide internet connectivity in rural and remote areas without reliable NBN service.
Founder and CEO Daniel Winson said the company had already connected more than 100 clients through early adopters and prototype customers, and was looking to expand significantly in the next 12 months after receiving a $644,370 federal government grant to accelerate its commercialisation.
"This funding is going to allow us to scale up our operations and get to market in Australia and then globally," Mr Winson said.
He said the company was manufacturing technology that could provide connectivity to farmers on their tractors.
"We're building new technology that enables long-range WiFi connectivity so people can have WiFi calling, they can have internet out in the paddock and so they can have wireless cameras and tractors that are fully connected so you can make use of the latest innovative ag technology," he said.
"We're focused on taking care of that one per cent of people that live in areas where Telstra and Optus and other carriers can't feasibly get there."
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack cut the official ribbon to open the factory on Monday morning, and said the business would have a significant role to play in connecting farmers with the global market by reaching places the NBN could not.
"What Dan Winson and his team are going to be doing here at their Riedell Street factory is that they're going to be connecting them to the world, they're going to be filling in the gaps," he said.
"Those farmers can be selling their grain, selling their stock whilst they're still on the tractor, whilst they're in their paddocks in a very remote location in Australia, they can be connected to the internet.
"Connectivity is so important for farmers as we make more trade arrangements with more countries around the world."
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Mr Winson said the company had grown to ten employees over the past 18 months and he was hoping to double the workforce in the next year.
"As we get to market, the sky's the limit," he said.
"We'd like to see manufacturing back in Australia and manufacturing in regional areas in Australia and we think we can deliver enough value through these products to do that here in Wagga."