A mine’s use of excavator-mounted satellite terminals is reshaping how remote sites collect and share data.
Remote Australian mines face a persistent challenge: transmitting real-time data in rugged environments that punish network infrastructure. Irregular pit walls and shifting terrain often block or scatter Wi-Fi radio signals, making coverage patchy and unreliable.
Traditional approaches – towers, fixed cabling or moveable trailers – can be costly and maintenance-heavy as IT staff struggle to constantly adjust coverage where it’s needed.
Work on a remote gold mine, Iron Mine Contracting (IMC) tested an interesting alternative.
IMC deployed a fleet management system, supplied by mining technology provider Haultrax, using ruggedised satellite terminals supplied by Vocus and mounted directly on excavators. Each excavator-mounted sat-pod broadcasts Wi-Fi around itself, creating a coverage zone wherever it works.
“Instead of building infrastructure around equipment, the connectivity simply moves with it,” Vocus head of space and wireless operations Ashley Neale said.
The system takes advantage of the few minutes haul trucks take sitting idle while being loaded by an excavator. During this time, they automatically upload the operational data they’ve collected while moving around the site through the excavator’s Wi-Fi hotspot, connected back to a Starlink satellite.
On the mine site, located in the Murchison region of Western Australia, two excavators were fitted with customised mounting kits developed with Kali-tech Aboriginal Corporation.
Each carries a Vocus Satellite – Starlink terminal, router, Wi-Fi and power supply. The configuration allows operational data to flow without manual intervention, even in the absence of mobile coverage.
“The impressive speeds of Starlink mean a lot of data can be transmitted in a short window,” Neale said. “Short Interval Control reporting data can easily be transmitted during the few minutes of loading,”
“The true value of mining data is in its ability to guide real-time operational decisions – not just retrospective office analysis. Haultrax technology, matched with satellite connectivity on excavators means data can be captured and shared in real-time,” Haultrax digital operational lead Lorenzo Scalabrini said.
“That means operations have the ability to make fast, informed decisions to keep productivity, safety and performance on track.”
“That means mining operations can make fast and safe decisions in response to what’s actually happening in the mine to optimise operations, whether they’re in early exploration or managing a full-scale operation.”
For exploration sites and trial mines, a system like this is attractive – with permanent networks hard to justify. These operations often run on uncertain timelines, making permanent fibre and private mobile network builds impractical.
Satellite systems mounted on equipment avoid high initial installation costs. Instead of up-front capital expenditure, projects pay a monthly subscription, with exploration teams able to begin capturing data from day one – rather than waiting months for a network to be built.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show mineral exploration expenditure reached more than $1 billion in the June 2024 quarter. Analysts note much of this investment is in early-stage exploration, where short timeframes make flexible digital infrastructure particularly attractive.
Mining’s cautious approach to new technology stems in part from painful history. In the mid-2010s, several high-profile mine digitisation programs were delayed or abandoned after connectivity technology struggled to keep pace with mine development.
Fixed Wi-Fi towers and mobile Wi-Fi trailers proved troublesome in some instances as pits expanded, and tech staff found themselves constantly chasing coverage blackspots.
The mine site trial suggests a more modern alternative. By allowing connectivity to move with the machinery, blackspots become a non-issue provided there’s clear line of sight to the sky.
“Fibre coupled with a private mobile network remains the benchmark for security and broad coverage across large operations,” Neale said.
“However, mobile satellite solutions can provide quick set-up, effective coverage and low up-front costs for exploration, early development or simply to maintain visibility if a primary network fails.”
The deployment highlights that connectivity no longer needs to be a binary choice between costly permanent infrastructure and inadequate Wi-Fi solutions.
The proof is in the pudding – with IMC seeing solutions as a major win.
“This is how we commit: never walk past a problem – always take actions,” IMC general manager of mining James Chomley said. “By working with industry partners, we’re delivering practical tech that solves real operational challenge.”
This feature appeared in the November issue of Australian Mining magazine. Get 50 per cent off your Australian Mining annual magazine subscription during our Black Friday sale. Visit our subscription page and use the code: AMBF25. Ends on 27 November 2025.