How is spectrum being used for machine to machine industrial communications? What are the benefits?What is the future?

Alan Seery

Supply chain15 mines in the Pilbara Four independent shipping terminals

Largest privately owned freight railway in Australia spanning 1600 kilometres

Pilbara Map

Communications in Mining

Changing mobile communication

needs:

Mobile fleet data is increasingly

reliant on wireless connectivity

Communications in mining

The Rio Tinto LTE network has been developed to support business, safety

and production critical systems through a single converged network.

In-Pit Wall Monitoring Systems

Safety and Production Critical Systems:

• In-Pit CCTV monitoring• Dewatering telemetry• Deformation Monitoring

• Prism Monitoring• Slope Radar

• High precision GPS• Intelligent Earthmoving

Communications in mining

Changing mobile communication needs:

Industry wide drive towards use of autonomous mining platforms

Autonomous drilling system (ADS)Autonomous haulage system (AHS)

Communications in mining

Incorporates visualisation and

collaboration tools to provide real-time

information across our demand chain.

Operations Centre - Perth

Pilbara mines, rail and ports operated from a single location in Perth (Operations Centre)

Why LTE?Key Benefits

Improved reliability and resiliency for production and safety critical services

The LTE network operates on a licenced frequency – no interference

Complete wireless coverage of all operational areas

Ability to prioritise traffic (QOS)

Safety and production critical traffic given priority over corporate traffic

Consolidated network platform to support all in-pit systems concurrently

The network can support all current in-pit systems concurrently which are typically

supported by multiple wireless networks/technologies

Reduced infrastructure requirement

• 4 LTE communications trailers compared to 30+ WIFI communications trailers

• All LTE infrastructure located outside of blast zones – no need to move trailers.

Radio Base Station – a new approach

The business case - with LTE we can consolidate infrastructure

Mobile infrastructure delivering LTE

• Rapidly deployable transportable

communications infrastructure

• Provides sharing, co-location and

standardisation of network assets,

The ever changing topology presents communications challenges

Additional benefits of LTE• Provides access to business applications from tablets or tough books

anywhere within the operational areas of the mine

• The system provides the capability to support both current and future

business demands for operational needs in relation to M2M connectivity,

voice, video and data

Additional benefits of LTE

Roll out of unified communications (voice/video mobile services)

solutions in pit.

Voice over LTE

Video over LTE (live video streaming)

For the future

Push to talk (two-way radio) over LTE

Location based services, personnel and asset tracking etc.

Design and implementation considerations• Spectrum allocation – Working with the regulator

– Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

• Availability & development of end-to-end ecosystem…

• Creating opportunities for industry

Rio Tinto SIM Cards

Design and implementation considerations• Geographic constraints & Remoteness limitations

• Drive testing was completed across all operational areas of the mine

• Adequate capacity to support all HME, autonomous drills, light vehicles,

and future voice and video on a single common wireless network.

Coverage area – drive testing results

17

Shading indicates drive test route. Areas in red indicate high data

throughput (above 10Mb/s)

Challenges to industry

Location Based Services

• Personnel Tracking

• In-Pit Proximity Detection

• Collision Detection

– Safety

• Asset tracking and management

– Efficiencies

PTT over LTE

(form factor and battery life are key

components to the solution)

Project achievements

First in the resources sector, first private LTE network in Australia

• The network provides wireless 4G coverage to all operational areas of West

Angelas

• High throughput rates in both uplink and downlink directions

• Support model established with a Network Operations Centre providing 24x7

support

• The LTE network is operational and has been supporting mining operations since

August 2013

“Making connection in the middle of nowhere” “I'm in a very big hole in the middle of nowhere and there's better mobile internet than in my Parliament House office. Welcome to the Pilbara.”

By Australian Associated Press (Katrina Curtis)Published: 08:30 AEST, 10 July 2014

2014 National iAwards Winner

Resources Category

Rio Tinto for Wireless 4G LTE Network

In Summary: The network enables M2M, Mobility and analytics opportunities

Thankyou

© 2014 Rio Tinto. All rights reserved.