Agile critical communications for mining operations
Joseph Mehawej, Regional Director, DAMM, representing TCCA
The pressure on mining companies to embrace digital technologies for critical communications is as strong as it is logical. Legacy analog devices are being phased out while digital platforms offer advantages in versatility, redundancy and OpEx costs. Yet many mining companies still operate analog networks and miners love and trust their analog radios.
Blanket migration to a digital platform is one option, but that ignores the need to manage the transition in a way that respects the wishes of miners. At the same time, mining companies are under operational pressure to develop smarter, more efficient critical communication systems. Margins are so tight and the costs of unplanned downtime so high that allowing the status quo to drift indefinitely is not an option.
The best of both worlds
This is where multi-technology (multi-tech) platforms come in. Multi-tech allows multiple technologies to run simultaneously on a single network. This means that a mining company can maintain its analog devices where they are preferred, such as in tunnels, while establishing an agile TETRA infrastructure alongside. As the digital radios prove their effectiveness, the transition can be completed at a pace miners will accept.
There are good reasons why TETRA is the preferred choice for mission-critical communications. It is ideal for ‘federation’ platforms, where multiple sites and operations are connected on a single network. Mining companies can exploit VHF reach and TETRA clarity to build a streamlined system that connects individual mining sites – below ground and open-cast – as well as the logistics infrastructure: road and rail links, port and airport terminals with VHF TETRA.
Robust technology
TETRA has been around since the late 1990s. The technology is proven and can support 100% redundancy without adding complexity. TETRA enables superb voice clarity, and the long reach of VHF is ideal for wide-area operations like mining. Because the TETRA backbone includes encryption, security is embedded within the network structure.
From an operational perspective, TETRA enables a range of functions that can optimise productivity and safety. The nature of the industry means that there are regularly events that require the immediate attention of operational, safety or security personnel. Because TETRA is digital, it can support software-defined functionality to meet the specific needs of individual operations or sites.
Customisable functions
One example would be a push-to-talk (PTT) app, which enables any smartphone to be used as a radio handset. The advantage of this is that calls can be received and sent from any location, at any time. In the event of a critical situation, key personnel can be reached and can respond remotely, in real time. This minimises response time and maximises the opportunity to prevent a situation from escalating.
Although safety will remain the top priority, this level of agility and rapid response is also relevant in terms of preventing avoidable downtime. If a mining company can resolve an operational situation in hours rather than days, the savings will more than justify the CapEx costs of transitioning to a digital critical communications platform. Add to the mix one serious injury avoided or one life saved, and the case for a robust multi-tech platform is hard to ignore.
TETRA and mining: a smart connection
With its combination of proven reliability, outstanding voice clarity and versatile, redundant architectures, TETRA is a natural choice for mining operations. In its multi-tech format, it provides all the flexibility mining companies need to create bespoke systems, while the VHF backbone is ideal for wide-area coverage. If the chosen platform is software defined, the choice of functionalities is almost limitless.
