The advancement in communication technology has led to the development of the latest innovations that enable faster communication irrespective of time and distance anymore.

Today’s telecommunication network equipped with 5G and Wi-Fi has not only enhanced human communication but has also been used for other purposes that were once unimaginable.

Through the IoT Industry Grant totaling RM119,000 sponsored by the Malaysian Technical Standards Forum Bhd (MTSFB), a company under the purview of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) introduced Long Range Communication Network (LoRa).

“LoRa is based on Chirp Spread Spectrum technology and the one used in this project is low-powered long-distance wireless network directly connected to the IoT or cloud computing,” said project leader Datin Dr. Nurul Adilah Abdul Latiff, also a Senior Lecturer at the School of Ocean Engineering.

This project used environmental sensors for monitoring purpose. Data obtained from the sensors would be sent using LoRa technology to the transmitter located on Bidong Island at 921.9 MHz frequency with the Effective Isotropic Radio Power (EIRP) of 110 Watts. The data would enter the Line of Sight and Fresnel Zone for 23 kilometres and reach the receiver located at UMT Lecture Complex. Here, the data would be stored in the databse and users could monitor the data real time.

She added that the project could be further expanded to help solve some of today’s biggest challenges which included energy management, lack of natural resources, pollution control, and disaster prevention.

Published by:

Corporate Communication Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu