TECHNOLOGY
70
T he need for new , innovative technologies in the mining industry is becoming more pressing . As easily accessible reserves decline , mining companies are forced to go deeper underground and to improve recovery yields while keeping costs under control . In addition , more stringent regulations on worker safety from authorities , the public and shareholders , incentivise miners to drive their operations to higher degrees of automation .
As a consequence , the demand for flexible and high-bandwidth communication in mines is soaring , because data links are the backbone of automated operations and serve as safety critical infrastructure . Information from sensors , CCTV , data-heavy automation solutions and voice communication needs to be broadcast across long distances and through difficult environments . The link between the surface and operations underground is the umbilical for safe and efficient mining operations .
Fiber optic networks are key to enabling the level of bandwidth required by mining corporations , providing a bridge between control systems , devices and data processing units . Fiber optic technologies also bring additional benefits such as immunity to electromagnetic fields , galvanic insulation and the advantages of future-proofed bandwidth extension . The harsh environment of mining operations , however , can pose a risk to the physical integrity of these networks . This creates a need for high-performing
FEBRUARY 2020