Introducing CAT’s Internet of Things Learning Centre’s role model for agricultural development
In today’s dawning Internet of Things (IoT) era, with so much online and lifestyle aspirations only a click away, disruptive technologies are catalysts for business people to adopt in order to ride the wave of change.
Yet CAT believes that these disruptive technologies aren’t only good to spur economic development but can also serve social development by giving people more knowledge that they can use to live wisely.
According to CAT data, there are currently over 120 million mobile phone SIM card registrations in Thailand, way more than the actual population of 70 million. Moreover, Thais rank the world’s top Internet and social media users, spending long hours connected online every day.
These facts indicate that disruptive technology can be a catalyst bringing a better quality of life to all. Hence, the “CAT Digital Come Together” initiative.
“CAT Digital Come Together” remoulds CAT’s role from that of a top telecommunication operator to become a leading innovation provider for socio-economic development.
Internet of Things to revolutionise agriculture
Realising the benefits of IoT, CAT Digital Come Together was initiated to use technology and telecommunication expertise to develop the agricultural sector. CAT specialists assist communities in adopting technologies that enhance productivity on farms. Among the technologies are automatic plant watering systems and agricultural produce processing technologies.
The IoT-enabled automatic plant watering system has been proven to save water efficiently, as witnessed, for instance, by teachers, students and parents at Tesabal 3 School in Baan Tam Boonsiri, Nakhon Nayok Province. The innovative system helps the school save on its water bill by effectively controlling watering times and quantities and displaying real-time humidity and weather conditions via mobile phone.
The innovative system can save the time and labour involved in caring for plants, thereby also improving the quality of living in the community.
Hands-on experiences towards sustainable development
To make the best use of IoT, you need to address the actual situation in the community. With this in mind, a team of CAT specialists took a field trip to learn about the people’s problems and needs directly. The information they gathered was then evaluated to figure out appropriate solutions. The CAT specialists found that the biggest issues on the farms are labour shortages and bites from poisonous animals.
The IoT watering system is an example of technological adaptation to solve problems on farms. It may seem a small issue but it has long been overlooked and has adversely affected Thai farmers across the country.
CAT has proved that IoT can be more than just a telecommunications platform if it is adapted wisely to serve the people constructively. Going forward, it can be an effective tool to devise a new theory of agricultural development throughout Thailand.
IoT benefits for communities, society, and the country as a whole
CAT’s Digital Come Together project has succeeded in establishing learning centres at schools in different communities where knowledge and know-how concerning disruptive technologies are widely shared.
In line with the company’s ultimate goal to promote job opportunities, happy living, and self-reliance among Thai people, CAT hopes the project will inspire all parties concerned to use technology for the betterment of society.
Besides being a telecommunication service provider, CAT is committed to sharing its innovations, knowledge and know-how technology to support sustainable development of the country’s agricultural sector.
CAT Digital Come Together is the company’s first step in making life better, ably aided by disruptive technologies, going forwards.
