Complex tunnel geometries, poor line of sight, heat, moisture, dust and the constant movement of heavy machinery make underground mines one of the most demanding industrial environments for communication infrastructure, asserts mining and industrial solutions provider Integrated Mining Technologies (IMT).

It notes that mining companies are moving to deploy real-time data and digital connectivity solutions that enable the secure and reliable transfer of data to improve safety and compliance.

IMT chief technology officer Marko Kotzé says private 5G connectivity provides flexible, resilient, real-time communication for smart, digitally-enabled mines. ​ The company deploys M3SH technology solutions across Africa designed to enable real-time environmental monitoring, personnel safety and regulatory compliance capabilities for mining companies. A purpose-built private 5G network is said to offer ultra-low latency, ​supporting safer automation by reducing delays in vehicle commands, proximity alerts and real-time monitoring. ​ ​

“In automated mining environments, communication lag is a safety hazard. A delayed instruction to an autonomous vehicle or a missed proximity alert can have catastrophic consequences. 5G's ultra-low latency eliminates the variable delays that legacy wireless systems introduce, providing the uninterrupted data backbone that machine automation requires to operate safely,” says Kotzé.

He explains that, unlike fixed cabling, 5G nodes can be repositioned as tunnels develop, making the network easier to adapt underground. As mines expand, capacity can be added with less cost and disruption than extending hardwired infrastructure.

“Traditional hardwired systems are expensive, vulnerable to damage, and less flexible as mine workings expand, while legacy wireless systems often struggle with tunnel corners, rock walls, and interference from equipment,” he says. “Private 5G overcomes these issues, giving the mine operator full control over security, bandwidth and network configuration in a way that no hardwired or legacy wireless system can match.”

Kotzé adds that dedicated 5G also heightens security, ensuring that data stays within the mine’s perimeter while supporting high bandwidth, encrypted communications and diverse sensor traffic. ​

M3SH technology's platform also includes real-time continuous miner identification and personnel tracking with emergency notifications, enabling personnel to be tracked with sub-metre accuracy and data transmission latency of less than 20 milliseconds.

“This is critical for mines, not only as a moral necessity but as a legal requirement under the Mine Health and Safety Act,” says Kotzé. ​

From initial network design and underground installation through to 24/7 field support and cross-system integration, IMT highlights its ability to provide the end-to-end capability to assist mines in the transition to private 5G and real-time monitoring.