REMOTE MINE SERVICES
Aqura Technologies CEO , Travis Young , says mine site accommodation network investments fundamentally support and enhance the positive wellbeing for fly-in fly-out staff who are away from home for extended periods and need reliable infrastructure to support connections to family and friends
accommodation sites , Veris said .
Later that month , it then secured a new agreement to provide Managed Services Support for BHP WAIO accommodation village entertainment networks across nine sites .
This will see Aqura ’ s in-house team will provide managed support services for village entertainment network and Wi-Fi access across BHP WAIO village accommodation rooms and public areas as part of this agreement .
This latest contract award leverages the internal investment undertaken by Aqura over recent periods to develop leading-edge Content Access Networks As a Service solutions , it said . “ These provide capability to generate multi-year managed services frameworks with clients across a range of sectors while delivering best of breed user experiences replicating their at-home experience in a remote setting ,” Aqura explained .
Young said the engagement was a significant recognition of Aqura ’ s capability and skills in the delivery and efficient operation of large-scale networks and further solidifies the company ’ s strategic transition to a product and servicebased business .
“ This engagement continues a highly successful relationship supporting BHP ’ s Inroom Communications and Entertainment Solution ( IRCES ), which saw Aqura upgrade over 12,000 rooms to provide high-quality connectivity access for their workers when they are away from home ,” he said .
“ We are proud to continue supporting BHP who have further shown their commitment to local businesses with this three-year engagement to ensure the IRCES network continues to deliver reliable and cost-effective access for many years to come .”
In February 2021 , meanwhile , the company was awarded A $ 1.1 million ($ 849,165 ) in works to undertake an upgrade of the in-situ accommodation network at Fortescue Metals Group ’ s Kangi 1,850 room village in the Pilbara .
The scope of the Kangi village engagement was to design and deliver physical upgrades to the GPON network to ensure a high level of reliability of services to village guests , it said . The enhancement of the existing infrastructure , using Aqura ’ s specialist technical expertise , will establish an extremely robust platform for the delivery of entertainment services and wellbeing programs to the large workforce accommodated at the site , the company explained .
Aqura was expected to have completed the scope of works by now .
“ The new contract adds to Aqura ’ s strong track record in delivering high-performance Content Access Network ( CAN ) solutions for clients such as BHP , Newmont , OZ Minerals and Abra Mining ,” Veris said of the FMG contract . “ Aqura ’ s expertise in the delivery of CAN solutions has delivered enhanced user experiences in over 16,000 accommodation rooms completed to date .”
Aqura Technologies CEO , Travis Young , added : “ We are very mindful of the benefits of this type of investment , which fundamentally supports and enhances the positive wellbeing for fly-in fly-out staff who are away from home for extended periods and need reliable infrastructure to support connections to family and friends .”
Improving connectivity was also behind Roy Hill ’ s decision to contract Aqura for support in designing , installing and commissioning the first phase of a new high-performance private LTE network for its operations in the Pilbara . It followed similar projects for Rio Tinto and OZ Minerals .
The scope of the Roy Hill engagement includes providing services for the first phase of a private 4G LTE network for large-scale mining operations , encompassing design , engineering , site installation and commissioning .
Aqura ’ s first phase works were expected to be completed last month .
Just last month , Aqura was awarded a grant from the Australian Government under the 5G Innovation Initiative to , it says , augment the organisation ’ s own development work to address the challenge of delivering underground 5G LTE .
The grant is an important step to overcome the technical and commercial barriers associated with operating next-generation broadband wireless networks in sub-surface environments , according to Aqura .
The 5G Innovation Initiative grant will complement investment already made by Aqura to deliver technical architectures , commercial
model development and installation of a live Private 5G LTE network in an operating mine . The project leverages a lot of learnings from a 2017 project where Aqura successfully delivered Private 4G LTE in an underground mine in the Kalgoorlie region of Western Australia , Aqura said .
The focus of the program is to fast-track the enablement of applications and processes that are being adopted in surface operations so underground operators can realise the benefits of enhanced environmental , safety and productivity outcomes that advanced wireless communications can deliver , it added .
Alliance takes flight
Despite the issues getting personnel into and out of remote mine sites during the pandemic , many mining companies have pledged to continue operating fly-in fly-out operations in Australia , among other locations .
Alliance Aviation Services has been a beneficiary of this , recently securing several air charter service agreements across the country .
Alliance specialises in offering transportation by air of its mining and energy customers ’ employees and contractors to and from remote locations .
The company , in April , announced a two-year extension of its air charter services agreement with BHP ’ s Western Australia Iron Ore division .
This extension , Alliance said , was further evidence of its reputation of outstanding customer retention , solidifying a relationship
that started with the first flight for BHP ’ s
Western Australia Iron Ore division in 2009 . The announcement came only six months after agreeing a three-year contract extension ( with two 12-month extension options ) with the
104 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2021