New rapid-deployment satellite solutions are making it possible to establish high-speed communications at even the most remote exploration sites.
For mining companies exploring far-flung corners of the country, establishing reliable high-speed connectivity has traditionally been one of the biggest challenges.
But that challenge is changing with a new suite of rapid-deployment solutions from Vocus, one of Australia’s specialist digital infrastructure providers, and its strategic solution partners.
“The new offerings are specifically designed to bring metro-grade connectivity to even the most remote exploration sites, and customers can have them up and running in a matter of minutes to hours, not months,” Vocus general manager of enterprise and government Kevin Griffen said.
The new solutions, which include the Rapid Satellite Pod and a range of ruggedised field-fixed and mobile asset deployment kits, tap into the “game-changing” capabilities of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology, specifically the Starlink platform.
“LEO satellites are a quantum leap forward in terms of the speeds and latency you can achieve in remote areas,” Griffen said.
“We’re talking about gigabit-plus speeds with latency comparable to what you’d get in a major city. It’s a total game-changer for the mining industry.”
A moveable powerhouse
The Rapid Satellite and Edge Compute Pod is a self-contained unit combining extremely high-throughput satellite connectivity with on-site edge computing capabilities.
“The Pod is pre-fitted with multiple Starlink satellite terminals, which we bond together to deliver speeds up to 1.7 gigabits per second (Gbps), depending on the configuration chosen by the customer and available network capacity at the site,” Griffen said.
But the Pod is more than just a connectivity solution. It can be equipped with powerful on-board servers and storage, enabling it to function as a complete remote data centre.
“We’ve designed the Pod to be a complete technology hub for exploration teams,” Griffen said.
“Geologists can store all their data on-site, with none of the hassle or delay of uploading it to head office. They can run data analytics, AI (artificial intelligence) models, and machine-learning workloads, all right there at the edge where the data is being collected.”
Image: Vocus
According to Griffen, this edge computing capability has the potential to revolutionise how exploration teams work.
“It’s about enabling real-time decision making,” he said. “If you can process and analyse your exploration data on-site, you can adjust your strategies on the fly.
“It is a huge efficiency and productivity booster.”
The Rapid Satellite Pods are shipped to sites fully pre-configured and can be operational immediately. They can be permanently installed or mounted on a trailer for mobility, with optional solar power upgrades for fully autonomous operation even without a generator.
Ruggedised mini kits for rapid deployment
Alongside the Rapid Satellite Pod, Vocus has introduced a range of small, ruggedised field deployment kits that enable standalone Vocus Satellite – Starlink connectivity to be offloaded from the back of a 4WD and established in minutes.
“The pre-built kits have everything needed – routers, cooling, batteries, the works – all packaged in tough weatherproof cases,” Griffen said. “For exploration teams wanting to set up a remote comms point quickly, they’re the ideal solution.”
The kits are designed for maximum portability and rapid deployment.
“You can pull up to a site, offload the kit, and have high-speed internet up and running in minutes,” Griffen said.
“It’s a level of agility that just has not been possible before in these remote environments.”
Transforming exploration
The combination of high-throughput satellite connectivity and on-site edge computing enabled by Vocus’ new solutions has the potential to be truly transformative for the mining industry.
“The future of mining will be shaped just as much by the data streams above the ground as the resources below it,” Griffen said.
“Having high-performance compute capabilities at the edge, fully integrated with high-speed connectivity, will allow mining companies to leverage AI, machine learning and real-time data analysis to optimise their exploration activities like never before.”
As projects progress from exploration to established sites, Vocus’ offerings provide a pathway for seamless integration with the company’s extensive terrestrial fibre network and high-powered data centre infrastructure.
“We’re in a unique position to support mining customers at every stage of their digital journey,” Griffen said.
“By combining low earth orbit satellite, fibre, edge and cloud into a cohesive platform, we are enabling a new era of connected, data-driven mining exploration.
“I don’t think it’s overstating things to say that this is a once-in-a-century step-change in the communications and analysis capabilities miners will have as they prospect for new sites.”
This feature appeared in the October 2024 issue of Australian Mining.
