The client approached MTI Tech Ltd in late 2022 with a view of providing a fully wireless communication system for key workers in the mine production areas – and also some of the underground drifts that are used as travel routes and conveyors. MTI proposed a hybrid ATEX and non-ATEX Wi-Fi system, based upon the MTI MineMESH Stations that have been deployed in many UK mining operations, and the Becker WRAP products which are intrinsically safe and approved for coal mining areas.
The deployment was complicated due to legacy mine communication networking equipment could only be operated at lower network speeds. MTI worked with the client to resolve these complications and enable the network to run at different speeds through different network segments.
Intrinsically Safe smartphones and tablets were configured by MTI to enable wireless SIP telephone calls to be operated from the handsets and full integration into the customers existing IP telephone network.
The client has been very impressed with the large wireless coverage areas that the system has provided – in some areas over 300m from the access points.
