The RUTM09 4G router for sustainable aquaculture connectivity

Highlights

✔ Sea lice infestations cost fish farmers more than $1 billion every year, highlighting the urgent need for effective, sustainable, and non-disruptive approach to lice control.

✔ Stingray Marine Solutions AS pioneered a system that uses machine vision and laser technology to monitor fish welfare and eliminate lice continuously inside pens.

✔ Teltonika’s RUTM09 4G router secures reliable 24/7 connectivity, while the Remote Management System (RMS) enables remote monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting, reducing site visits and enabling global scalability.

The challenge – ensuring real-time insights & remote management

Aquaculture is one of the world’s fastest-growing food production sectors, supplying more than half of all fish consumed globally. But despite its rapid growth, the industry faces a costly and persistent obstacle: sea lice. These parasites weaken fish, reduce yields, and are responsible for massive financial losses across the sector.

It is estimated that fish farmers spend more than $1 billion every year on sea lice treatments alone – without even accounting for the additional losses caused by reduced growth, higher mortality rates, and stricter environmental regulations.

For fish farmers, this creates an urgent need for effective, sustainable, and non-disruptive lice control solutions. Traditional methods, such as chemical baths, thermal or freshwater treatments, and mechanical removal, are expensive, labour-intensive, and often come with negative impacts on fish welfare and the surrounding environment.

Stingray Marine Solutions AS, a Norwegian company pioneering innovative technologies for aquaculture, aimed to break this cycle by introducing a continuous, precise, and environmentally friendly approach. Combining machine vision with advanced laser technology, their system continuously scans fish in pens, monitors well-being, and eliminates lice, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional methods.

Only with uninterrupted access to real-time data and remote operations could fish farmers and analysts effectively monitor stocks, respond swiftly, and reduce the staggering economic burden caused by lice. So, to make such an innovation possible, reliable connectivity was essential.

Topology

The solution – 4G router made for continuous connectivity

Delivering continuous, precise, and environmentally friendly lice control required a system built around three interconnected elements: the Node Cabinet, providing Internet to the whole system, the Submerged Unit for scanning and laser treatment, and the Buoyant Unit that positions the Submerged Unit within the pen.

At the edge of the pen, the Node Cabinet houses Teltonika’s RUTM09 4G router – the central hub that provides connectivity with speeds of up to 300Mbps, keeps all components connected via Ethernet, and forwards all collected data to servers through its LTE uplink. The compact size of only 115 × 44.2 × 95.1 mm and compatibility with our partner’s DIN rail mounting system allows it to fit perfectly inside the cabinet, ensuring easy installation and seamless integration.

The router uses its Ethernet ports for two critical connections: one port links to a computer that controls power to the node and collects sensor data, and another Ethernet port supplies internet access to the units in the pen, ensuring smooth coordination between all components.

Moreover, dual SIM capability adds resilience by allowing the router to automatically switch to the second SIM card if the primary connection is lost. Built-in failover functionality ensures uninterrupted connectivity by automatically switching between mobile and wired connections when needed, keeping operations online even in challenging marine conditions.

On top of that, the RUTM09 4G router forwards all collected images, video snapshots, and sensor data from the Submerged Unit to the company’s servers. It allows Stingray’s clients access to the timely insights via the Stingray portal, while our partner’s engineers receive constant flow of up-to-date information for continuous evaluation.

The Buoyant Unit, which positions and adjusts the Submerged Unit with its winch and power cable, is linked to the system through the Node Cabinet. Precise movement and uninterrupted performance are ensured by maintaining a steady connection between surface equipment and the submerged hardware via the router.

Beyond its hardware strengths, the RUTM09 4G LTE router also provides important software advantages. API support simplifies setup and enables smooth integration into Stingray’s existing infrastructure, while Teltonika’s Remote Management System (RMS) makes it possible to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the solution remotely. This reduces the need for site visits and supports global scalability.

As our partner explained, Teltonika’s RUTM09 was the best choice for their needs thanks to its compact size, dual SIM, remote operation capabilities, and ease of mounting. The 4G router gave them the ability to optimise their production process and simplify management through both RMS and the router’s API.

So, if you're looking for a compact 4G router developed for undisrupted connection – look no further. Contact us today to request your sample!