Mining organisations are struggling to exploit mission critical data created by Industrial IoT applications

Organisations from the mining industry are struggling to take full advantage of the data gathered by their Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications due to connectivity challenges.

According to a global study by Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, 94% of mining organisations are facing significant challenges in extracting valuable insights from data to improve the productivity, efficiency and safety of their operations.

These challenges are due, in large part, to problems related to connectivity. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of mining organisations reported that a lack of reliable connectivity is hampering the success of their IIoT deployments, further underlining the importance of robust communication networks to the success of IIoT. While, almost half (46 per cent) of mining organisations cited a lag between data collection and it being available for use as a reason for why they are not able to generate full value from the data collected by their IIoT solutions.

This issue highlights the need for mining companies to implement more reliable connectivity methods and data-processing strategies to collect, transfer and present mission critical data for analysis. Given the remote location of many mines and the vast quantity of data gathered by connected sensors, these capabilities are critical for mining companies seeking to capitalise on their IIoT solutions.

Commenting on the findings, Joe Carr, Director of Mining, Inmarsat Enterprise, said: “Mining businesses increasingly rely on IIoT technology to extract, haul and process raw materials. The data produced by these systems often has a shelf life, meaning that if it is not where it needs to be, at the right time, it can become outdated and of little value. To secure the significant benefits that IIoT offers, businesses must ensure that they can view and analyse mission critical data in real-time, which requires a robust and reliable communications network.

“The remote location of most mining facilities, and the attached high cost of deploying terrestrial connectivity, means that satellite communications can play a critical role in transferring data back to control centres to provide a complete picture of mission critical metrics. Businesses must work with trusted IIoT satellite connectivity specialists and their partner eco-systems to ensure they can extract and analyse their data effectively, wherever their operations are located,” he concluded.

Inmarsat is a leading provider of mobile satellite connectivity for Industrial IoT deployments across the global supply chain. It has a proven and unrivalled track record of operating the world’s most reliable satellite networks, sustaining business critical applications for almost 40 years. Its award-winning L-band services are enabling end-to-end transparency across the production, extraction, manufacture and multi-modal transportation of goods.