Worker Accommodation Camp: Diverse LEO Satellite

About the Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project

In regional southeast Queensland, a major pumped hydro energy storage initiative is underway to support Australia’s transition to renewable energy. This long-duration storage facility will play a key role in grid stability as renewable sources grow.

During the exploratory and early works phases, hundreds of workers require on-site accommodation in remote, extremely rugged terrain with no existing terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure – no fibre, no mobile coverage, and no traditional fixed wireless options.

The Business Challenge

The accommodation camp, built in stages to align with workforce growth, needed seamless Wi-Fi across individual rooms, common areas, dining facilities, and outdoor spaces. Workers expected fast and reliable internet for personal use such as video calls with family, streaming entertainment, and browsing – while complying with strict content filtering and security policies.

With the site far beyond reach of conventional networks, satellite was the only viable backhaul option. However, a single satellite service could not reliably meet the performance demands of hundreds of concurrent users. The solution needed to be resilient, scalable, and capable of supporting both operational and worker welfare requirements.

The Business Solution

MarchNet, a leading telecommunications carrier, was engaged to design and deploy a high-performance, reliable connectivity solution for a temporary worker accommodation camp housing over 300 residents.

MarchNet implemented a robust wide-area network (WAN) using multiple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services from different constellations. This diverse approach bonded several independent links through advanced SD-WAN technology, providing:

• Aggregated high throughput for peak demand
• Automatic failover for near-continuous availability
• Intelligent traffic routing and load balancing

Building on the resilient backbone, MarchNet deployed a fully managed Wi-Fi system:

• Strategic placement of wireless access points for comprehensive indoor and outdoor coverage
• Centralised cloud-based management for seamless roaming and optimisation
• Individual user credentials managed by camp administration
• Per-device bandwidth limiting to ensure fair access
• Robust content filtering for compliance
• Scalable design rolled out in phases matching camp expansion

The result was resilient internet connectivity providing consistent speeds and supporting a Wi-Fi network with hundreds of simultaneous users, even during evening peaks.

“This is a flagship renewable energy project, and as operator of the accommodation camp Sirrom recognises that good quality, robust connectivity is essential for a happy and health workforce. As our first partnership with MarchNet, Sirrom have been extremely impressed with MarchNet’s responsiveness and ability to deliver a high-quality, resilient internet service and Wi-Fi network to an accommodation camp located in such challenging terrain,” Darren Camilleri, Sirrom’s Contracts & Performance Manager said.

The Business Outcome

MarchNet’s implementation of a resilient, reliable, high-capacity internet and managed Wi-Fi network demonstrates how modern LEO technology, combined with diverse routing and professional network design, is enabling critical infrastructure projects in Australia’s most challenging environments.

As renewable energy developments accelerate in regional areas, solutions like this ensure workers stay connected – boosting productivity, safety, and morale.

Key benefits included:

• High Reliability: Diverse LEO bonding minimised disruptions, delivering uptime far superior to single-provider setups.
• Improved Performance: Bonded link routinely provided aggregated speeds exceeding hundreds of Mbps, enabling smooth streaming and video calls.
• Scalability: The phased deployment accommodated camp growth without re-work and can be expanded further if the need arises.
• Improved Staff Well-being: The managed Wi-Fi network provided in-room and outdoor coverage and allowed staff to maintain regular contact with family and friends, and access to entertainment services, which positively impacted staff morale and retention.

MarchNet’s solution ensured that the camp operator could focus on supporting the workforce and the project, rather than managing IT and connectivity challenges.