Miners set to benefit from next-gen satellite communications

Helen Stalker, commercial director of global satellite phone services at Inmarsat talks about the benefits of satellite communications in Australian mining.

Australian mines are arguably some of the best-equipped and best-serviced mining operations anywhere in the world.
With access to a first-class communications infrastructure in more developed areas, and some of the world’s most evolved long-range communications technologies in more remote regions, Australian mines generally don’t skimp when it comes to the safety and productivity of their staff.
From radio networks to microwave towers, and even standard GSM services, more miners are able to connect and communicate regardless of their stations. This is no mean feat in a country where mining plays such an important role - accounting for more than eight per cent of GDP and employing more than 300,000 people - and yet is faced with some of the most uncompromising geography of any developed mining nation.
Until recently, Australian mines have not had access to a single, ubiquitous source of reliable mobile communications. That’s because the only technology capable of providing this level of coverage for mobile voice and broadband data comms – satellite – wasn’t available throughout the entire country. Since the launch of a new communications satellite from UK-based Inmarsat a few years ago, however, Australia has enjoyed nationwide coverage from the Inmarsat-4 network, opening up new opportunities for businesses that need connectivity in even the most remote spots of Australia.
Recent advances in satellite communications have been particularly favourable to the mining sector. For example, new handsets due to launch this year will bring GSM-like capabilities to the satellite phone for the first time, providing high-quality satellite telephony at a significantly lower cost.
One example about to launch in Australia is Inmarsat’s own IsatPhone Pro, the company’s first global satellite handset designed specifically for professional applications such as mining.
The phone has the longest battery life of any satellite handset – up to eight hours talk time and more than 100 hours standby. It is also the most robust satellite phone available, with complete dust, splash and shock resistance, an Ingress protection rating of IP54, and capable of operating in the most extreme temperatures from - 20 degrees Celsius to 55 degrees Celsius.
Australian mining is at a crossroad, politically and economically. Mining taxation was one of the key debate points in this year’s Federal election, and is certain to remain a hot topic as the industry tussles with the government to keep its competitive edge over other nations. In this context, equipping Australia’s mines with the latest in communications technology becomes even more important, particularly given the fluidity of mining employment and ability of qualified miners to seek gainful employment in the broader Asia Pacific region.
It follows that any technology that demonstrates a rapid return on investment, combined with long-term reliability, will win the dollars against less reliable or more risky investments.