Jaime Laguna, Nokia, USA, evaluates the benefits of private wireless networks as mines go deeper underground.
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smart mining research study published in 2021 showed, the market is projected to reach US$23 055.4 million by 2028, up from US$9614.5 million in 2021.1 The reason for this is clear, as more companies realise the benefit of connecting people, machinery, and even the structure of their mines in order to digitally transform operations. Mine operators have high expectations for these future operations. They want to increase the safety of their workers and protect local communities; maximise utilisation and extend the lifespan of their equipment; optimise processes and workflows to enhance productivity and become more competitive. Operators are also dedicated to managing and using resources more efficiently, in order to meet stringent regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. By accessing operational data and performing intelligent data analytics, they can better support decision-making to achieve all these goals. They will be able to benefit from a mix of old and new services, from simple voice and video person-to-person communications to more complex capabilities. Remote environmental and equipment monitoring, drilling and blasting control, as well as autonomous and tele-remote-controlled vehicles and machinery, are all within their grasp in the connected mine. All of these innovations have one thing in common: they rely on mission-critical wireless communication capabilities.
Ultra-connectivity requires reliable and ubiquitous coverage
To support these use cases, companies need reliable, pervasive network coverage; massive capacity; and low latency – all qualities
30 May 2022 // global mining review
