South African mining is becoming increasingly connected

Across South Africa, mining has been investing in automation, telemetry, tracking, real-time monitoring, data analytics and video to improve safety, production and operational visibility.

However, as mines become more “connected”, one fundamental requirement becomes even more important – reliable communications.

For mining leadership, the question is no longer whether the operation has radios, but whether the communications infrastructure supporting them is being treated as critical infrastructure.

More than a Radio

Over the years, two-way radios have been one of the most critical communication tools in mining. They provide resources, machinery, control rooms and emergency services with immediate access to each other, often where conventional communication methods are impractical.

The role of the radio is changing, however.

Modern digital radio networks can form part of a much broader communications environment, supporting voice, data, location information, dispatch and integration with other operational technologies.

This is where critical communication technologies manufacturer Hytera becomes relevant. The wider solution can include infrastructure, dispatch, location services, body-worn cameras, telemetry and other connected technologies.

Evaluating a communications solution purely by looking at the terminals misses much of the picture. A rugged radio is of limited value if the network supporting it cannot provide the coverage, availability, capacity and resilience the operation needs.

In mining, the question is no longer “Which radio should we buy?” but rather “What communications infrastructure does our operation need?”

Hytera DMR and TETRA solutions can be designed around these requirements, including trunked communications, control-room dispatch, emergency communications, location services and integration with existing systems.

The Network Behind the Device

Mining environments are not static.

Working areas underground move. Haul roads and dump sites change on surface, while production requirements and infrastructure also change. Communications equipment must operate through these conditions.

The communications network must keep up.

A network that was appropriate when originally deployed may not necessarily be appropriate for what the mine has become.

The choice between technologies should consider the operational environment, coverage, availability, resilience, future applications and capacity.

Hytera’s DMR Tier III solutions can provide a scalable platform for operations requiring reliable voice and data communications, while Hytera TETRA can address environments where mission-critical communications, capacity, control and operational resilience are key requirements.

The network needs to be designed for the mine, not the other way around.

Bridging Narrowband and Broadband

As mining becomes more connected, a question being asked increasingly is: “How do you bring traditional radio communications together with modern broadband connectivity?”

The answer is Hytera multi-mode devices.

Available in DMR through the PDC680 and TETRA through the PTC680, these devices are designed to bridge narrowband and broadband communications.

Multi-mode devices bring radio and cellular communications together on a single platform, allowing users to access existing networks while taking advantage of broadband applications where available.

This creates a practical path towards modernisation without replacing the entire network at once.

As mining introduces PoC, MCX, video, data and location services, multi-mode devices can link these technologies to the existing radio network.

What Happens When Normal is not Normal?

A communications network should not be judged only by how it performs under normal conditions. Its real value becomes apparent when conditions are abnormal.

Infrastructure can be disrupted, equipment can fail and sections of the operation can become inaccessible.

During an incident, the last system you want to fail is your communications. Resilience therefore needs to be considered when designing a solution.

Mining should ask whether it has appropriate redundancy, emergency communications and the ability to rapidly establish or restore communications.

Solutions like the Hytera E-Pack200 are designed around this principle, providing a rapidly deployable communications layer when the existing solution cannot provide the required connectivity.

The objective is not simply to have a back-up radio, but to ensure that communication remains available when it is needed most.

The Cost of Keeping the Status Quo

A question that is not asked often enough is: “What is the real cost of keeping an ageing communications network?”

Replacing existing systems can appear expensive when they are still operational. But ageing systems can carry costs that are not always visible on a capital expenditure sheet.

Maintenance requirements can increase, components can reach end-of-life, and older infrastructure can limit expansion and integration.

“Still Working” and “Fit for the Future” are not necessarily the same thing.

This does not mean every mine should replace its network immediately. A mine can assess its existing network, identify operational gaps and develop a migration plan that protects appropriate investments while introducing new capabilities where they provide an operational benefit.

Existing DMR and TETRA infrastructure can be assessed alongside PoC and MCX, with each used where it delivers the greatest value.

Building for the Connected Mine

The mine of the future will not depend on isolated technologies.

Hytera’s body-worn camera solutions can provide mobile video capability, while dispatch and control-room platforms can give operators greater visibility of communications and resources. PoC and broadband solutions can extend communications where cellular is available.

The connected mine should not be defined by how many technologies it has, but by how effectively they work together.

Digital transformation is not simply about adding technology. It is about making it work together to improve how information moves through the operation.

Whether communications are delivered through Hytera DMR, TETRA, multi-mode, PoC or a combination of these, the objective remains the same: provide reliable communication to the people who need it, where they need it and when they need it.

The question is: “Can our communications infrastructure support the mine we operate today, and the mine we intend to become tomorrow?”

Because the connected mine does not start with AI, automation or analytics.

It starts with connectivity.

Explore Hytera's smart mining communications solutions here