A TENACIOUS TECH-TRIO

GLOBAL NETWORK AND DIGITAL SERVICES GIANT ORANGE BUSINESS IS HELPING TO REVOLUTIONISE THE MINING INDUSTRY, CHANGING THE WAY MINES COMMUNICATE FOR THE BETTER.

LEO satellites, SASE and AIOps may all sound like complicated pieces of technology, but in reality, these simple systems are changing the way mines work, connect and communicate.

For mining organisations, the combination of these can be a game-changer, bringing significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and profitability. This tech-trio is offering a new reality of seamless and secure connected operations, while keeping mining businesses future-proofed.

Orange Business Australia and New Zealand managing director Andrew Borthwick sat down with Australian Mining to explain just how much a mine can benefit from these solutions.

LEO satellites

Low earth orbit (LEO) satellites are just that; satellites orbiting Earth at a lower altitude than traditional satellites, making them ideal for delay-sensitive applications that support mine sites.

Orbiting between 160-2000km above the Earth's surface, LEO satellites work as a group, meaning if one satellite experiences an issue, another one is ready to take over to ensure those on the ground receive uninterrupted service.

"LEO satellites are hugely beneficial for the global mining industry because resources are often found in difficult environments that are hard to reach with terrestrial communications," Borthwick told Australian Mining.

"The use of LEO satellites makes a huge difference for mines from a connectivity perspective, because employees can transmit data from out on the field in real-time."

With exploration teams having to venture further out to find ore deposits, fast connectivity is paramount.

Using LEO satellites, valuable information on terrain can be fed back to base instantly. From a safety perspective, these satellites also ensure help can be expedited if something goes wrong.