mining communications
Mining
Two Way Radios for Mining Operations Across Australia
Mining sites are among the most demanding communication environments on earth. Vast open pit areas, underground tunnels, high-noise heavy plant, remote locations far from any carrier network, and strict WHS obligations for lone workers and emergency response. A communication failure on a mine site is not an inconvenience. It is a safety incident waiting to happen.
Digicom Wireless supplies commercial-grade two-way radio systems and cellular coverage solutions to mining operations across Australia. From underground coal and gold mines to open cut iron ore and remote exploration sites, we design systems around the real conditions on your site rather than the best-case scenario on a spec sheet.
Mobile Cellular Coverage Where Your Workers Need It
Two-way radio is the backbone of mine site communication, but modern mining operations increasingly need more than voice. Workers in remote low-coverage areas need mobile internet access for safety applications, data systems, and basic connectivity. FIFO camps need mobile calling capability. Surface operations need reliable cellular for smartphones and data devices alongside the radio fleet.
Digicom Wireless supplies Cel-Fi cellular booster and repeater solutions for mine sites with poor or no carrier coverage. Whether you need to extend 4G signal across a remote site, create a cellular hotspot for a FIFO camp, or boost mobile internet connectivity for surface operations, we can design a solution around your coverage footprint and terrain.
GPS Tracking and Lone Worker Safety
Australian WHS legislation requires mine operators to account for the safety of workers in isolated locations. GPS-enabled radios allow supervisors to monitor the position of every worker on-site in real time. Man-down alerting triggers an automatic emergency alert when a radio is stationary or tilted outside normal parameters. Lone worker timers prompt the user to confirm they are safe at set intervals. These are not optional features on a mine site — they are operational requirements.
Wide-Area Coverage Across Large Mine Sites
Open pit mines can span tens of kilometres. Underground operations present a different challenge entirely, with tunnels that absorb and deflect radio signals. Digicom Wireless designs repeater infrastructure for both surface and underground mine environments, extending the coverage of portable and vehicle-mounted radios across the full operational footprint. For sites that exceed conventional radio range, WAVE PTX push-to-talk over cellular provides coverage wherever the carrier network reaches.
Intrinsically Safe Radios for Hazardous Zones
Underground coal mines and certain surface processing areas are classified hazardous zones under Australian WHS regulations. Standard two-way radios are prohibited in these environments. Digicom Wireless supplies IECEx and ATEX certified intrinsically safe radios for Zone 1 and Zone 2 classified areas, including the Motorola MOTOTRBO R7 IS and DP4401 Ex. All IS radios are specified to the correct zone classification for your site before anything is ordered.
Cel-Fi Coverage Solutions for Remote Mine Sites and FIFO Camps
Many Australian mine sites operate in areas where carrier network coverage is poor, patchy, or non-existent. Workers need more than a radio. They need mobile internet access for safety management systems, digital work orders, data applications, and basic connectivity during time off. FIFO camps need reliable mobile calling and data for workers who rely on their phones to stay in contact with family during extended rotations.
Digicom Wireless supplies and installs Cel-Fi cellular booster and repeater systems designed for remote and industrial environments. Cel-Fi solutions amplify existing carrier signals across a site, extending 4G coverage into areas where it would otherwise be too weak to use. For sites beyond carrier range entirely, we can assess options including private LTE infrastructure and satellite-based connectivity solutions to bridge the gap.
- Extends 4G mobile coverage across remote mine sites
- Mobile internet connectivity for safety and data systems
- Cellular hotspots for FIFO camp calling and connectivity
- Works alongside your existing radio fleet
- WAVE PTX integration for PTT over cellular where needed
- Site assessment and coverage design included
Who We Supply on Mining Operations
Mining communication requirements vary significantly by operation type, site size, and zone classification. Here is how we approach the most common scenarios.
Open Pit and Surface Operations
Vehicle-mounted VHF or UHF radios for haul trucks, excavators, and surface fleet. Wide-area repeater infrastructure for large pit footprints. GPS tracking and dispatch integration for fleet management and safety.
Underground Mining
Repeater and leaky feeder infrastructure for tunnel coverage. IECEx certified IS radios for classified zones. Man-down and emergency alert features for isolated underground workers. Robust hardware rated for dust, moisture, and physical impact underground.
Processing Plants and Fixed Infrastructure
Multi-channel radio systems for maintenance crews, operations teams, and control room dispatch. Intrinsically safe equipment for classified areas within processing facilities. TRBOnet dispatch integration for work order management and fleet visibility.
Remote Exploration and Survey Teams
Rugged portable radios for field teams in remote terrain. WAVE PTX as the long-range fallback where radio infrastructure does not reach. Cel-Fi solutions for base camp mobile connectivity and internet access during extended field campaigns.
FIFO Camps and Accommodation Villages
Cel-Fi cellular booster systems to extend 4G coverage across camp facilities, giving workers reliable mobile calling and internet access during their time off. Addressed separately from the operational radio system and designed around the camp's specific carrier signal strength and layout.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
Emergency alert capability, all-call broadcast, and priority channel override ensure that mine site emergency communications cut through all other traffic. GPS tracking provides rescue coordinators with the last-known location of every worker on-site during an incident.
Radio coverage, cellular connectivity, or both?
Talk to us about your site. We will assess your operational footprint, zone classifications, coverage gaps, and connectivity needs and come back with a practical solution. ACMA-accredited, ARCIA-accredited, and Motorola Solutions Platinum Channel Partner.