The current global strain on ore prices has seen increased demand for operational efficiencies across all platforms of mining, with digital communications taking a pivotal role in how this is achieved.
Emcom Wireless, a South African-based provider of mission-critical communications on the continent, has responded to market demand by partnering with Tait Communications of New Zealand, to release a cost-effective, rapidly deployable, lower tier digital radio solution targeted at the mining sector.
Speaking at the launch of the new product in Johannesburg recently, Director for Sales and Business Development, Tony Sipho Sibanda, said: "Our trunked low-tier product is positioned well for new entrants into the digital radio communications space. It offers the benefits of a trunked digital solution in a rapidly deployable package that will grow with any expanding operation over time from a single to a multi-site linked network."
The launch of the Tier 2 digital product is targeted at mines across Africa looking to seamlessly migrate from current analogue systems to the more secure digital platform and optimise operations at a fraction of the cost of a full-blown Tier 3 solution. Over time, as operations grow and the need for increased data and voice traffic increases, the system can be upgraded to a full-blown Tier 3 solution via software updates over the air, without the need to replace any of the existing hardware elements or radios.
Trunked radio systems take advantage of the probability that with any given number of users, not everyone will need channel access at the same time. With a given number of radio channels, a greater quantity of users can be accommodated through the dynamic assignment of idle channels to users on demand based on pre-set customisable parameters. In an evacuation, for instance, priority can be assigned to supervisors of underground teams or the recovery crews instead of allowing everybody to talk and then waiting for a free slot to relay information.
"The growing interest in our solution across Africa has confirmed the readiness of the mining sector for this next phase of communications in improving safety standards and efficiencies," added Sibanda.
Emcom Wireless is not new to this area and, for the past 45 years, has been involved in the design, development, supply, implementation, support and management of some of the leading radio infrastructure across Africa, and prides itself in being an industry leader in breaking barriers and developing solutions that meet customer needs and exceed expectations.
Contact Emcom today on sales@emcom.co.za to get more detail on this new development and how it can best address your needs.
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