Bauxite Mine in Western Cape York: DMR Voice and Data
MarchNet delivered a three-site linked DMR network with a redundant microwave backbone, mobile app access and 24x7 NOC support for a bauxite mine on Western Cape York with no mobile coverage.
Reliable radio communications for one of Australia’s most remote mining operations, where there is no mobile coverage at all.
Bauxite from the edge of the map
A flagship bauxite mine on Western Cape York sits within a tenement package of around 1,900 square kilometres. Bauxite is mined, trucked to a port infrastructure area and loaded into barges, which are towed down the river to an anchorage at sea for transhipping to freight vessels.
The site is accessible only by charter flight or barge, is exposed to hot, wet and cyclonic weather, and operates through a dry season of roughly nine months each year. Every part of that chain, from pit and haul road to port and barge, depends on people being able to talk to each other.
No mobile coverage. No margin for error.
- Zero mobile coverage: no public network across the operational area
- Remote access: personnel and equipment arrive by charter flight or barge only
- Harsh climate: hot, wet and cyclonic conditions, with a short window for works
- Challenging terrain: dense tree coverage across a large project area
- Mine-to-port operations: pit, haul road, port and barge loading all needing coordinated, safety-critical communications
The customer needed a robust communications system suited to the location, delivering reliable voice and data across the whole project area.
DMR built on existing infrastructure
MarchNet designed and implemented a voice and data system tailored to the customer’s safety and operational needs. Digital Mobile Radio was selected for its track record in energy and resources, its reliability in harsh environments and its feature set.
MarchNet delivered a three-site linked DMR solution across the operation, supporting communications between the camp, the port and a northern mining area. The sites were at locations MarchNet already used to deliver the customer’s internet services. Re-using MarchNet’s existing towers, data network and power systems reduced cost and deployment time. The network was IP-connected from day one, opening it up to app-based access and recording of all communications.
Talk to site from anywhere in the world
Because the DMR system was designed to be IP-connected, offsite personnel can communicate directly with staff on site through a dedicated mobile phone app, from head office, another site or overseas. Every call across the network can also be recorded, supporting safety investigations, quality assurance and operational review.
No single point of failure
MarchNet established a redundant microwave network beneath the DMR infrastructure, giving a robust data backbone in the remote environment. A single link failure does not cause a loss of critical communications.
Monitored 24x7, maintained before it fails
MarchNet provides ongoing monitoring and support, including rapid repairs in a location exposed to cyclones every year. Advanced remote monitoring and MarchNet’s 24x7 Network Operations Centre allow trends to be analysed proactively, so preventative maintenance is carried out before service is affected.
The outcome: safer, more productive operations without mobile coverage
- Enhanced communication: consistent voice and data across the operation, critical for safety and efficiency
- Increased productivity: reliable tools let teams coordinate tasks more effectively
- Safety improvements: instant communication across the mine site reduced response times during emergencies
- Operational flexibility: the mobile app kept workers connected wherever they were, supporting real-time updates and decisions
The right technology, built on infrastructure already in place, giving the customer reliable communications in one of Australia’s most remote mining locations.