UQOMM
Underground communication for every industrial sector
Each industrial setting presents unique connectivity challenges. We design communication architectures that integrate different technologies to address the specific conditions of each operation, backed by more than 30 years of experience in the world’s most demanding environments.
+30
years designing communication architectures
5
industrial sectors served
+30
countries across five continents
+8
technologies integrated into a single architecture
UQOMM
Context
Industries operating in confined environments share a fundamental challenge: radio signals do not propagate. Yet the underlying causes, constraints, and appropriate solutions differ substantially.
In an underground mine, the challenge lies in solid rock hundreds of meters deep, potentially explosive atmospheres, and the need to maintain reliable communications at all times. In a vehicular tunnel, the challenge is ensuring simultaneous coverage for multiple radio systems, the driver’s phone, and FM, while complying with regulations that allow no exceptions. In an urban metro system, the priority is guaranteeing that the communications supporting the operation never fail.
UQOMM designs and integrates communication architectures tailored to the specific requirements of each sector. Before selecting any technology, we analyze the operation in depth: work schedules, emergency protocols, regulatory frameworks, required automation levels, and infrastructure growth plans.
Our 30+ years of experience have shown that no single solution fits all cases. What matters is the expertise to integrate the right technologies and engineer the communication architecture that best meets each operation’s challenges.
UQOMM
Sector ecosystem
Underground mining
The most demanding setting for industrial communications. Deep underground environments, continuously expanding galleries, potentially explosive atmospheres, and personnel whose safety relies on real‑time, dependable communications. For more than 30 years, UQOMM has designed and integrated communication systems for some of the world’s most complex underground mines, including copper operations in the Andes mountains, gold mines in Southeast Asia, and coal mines in South Africa.
- Continuous coverage from the mine entrance to the deepest operational zones
- Underground personnel tracking capabilities integrated with evacuation alarm systems
- Dynamic scalability aligned with the progression of the mining front
- Compliance with sector regulations: DS 132 (Chile), Mining Regulation (Peru), MHSA (South Africa), WHS (Australia)
Applicable technologies: Leaky Feeder, Private LTE, DAS/DRS, Underground Wi‑Fi and UWB, Private 5G, Mining IoT, Spread Spectrum, Digital Mining, and personnel/asset‑tracking systems.
Vehicular tunnels
Vehicular tunnels require communications that perform without failure in emergency situations, from firefighter radio to the driver’s phone. With demanding regulations and multiple systems sharing the same physical space, UQOMM designs communication architectures that integrate each technology and comply with the applicable standards, ensuring reliability for decades.
- Concurrent coverage for emergency radio, public telephony, and FM broadcasting
- Compliance with European regulations (SEVESO Directive, EN 50126) and U.S. standards
- Integration with tunnel SCADA management platforms
- Robustness against high humidity, corrosive gases, and extreme temperatures
- Guaranteed redundancy and uninterrupted service 24/7
Applicable technologies: DAS/DRS, Leaky Feeder, and Private LTE.
Underground metro
Mass‑transit systems require mission‑critical communications to coordinate train operations, manage passenger flow, and support safety systems that must remain uninterrupted. UQOMM has designed and integrated communication solutions for metro and rail networks transporting millions of passengers annually, ensuring the highest levels of availability and safety.
- Continuous coverage across tunnels, platforms, and transfer areas
- Compliance with TETRA, GSM R, and LTE railway standards
- Integration with centralized CBTC control systems
- High availability performance (>99.99%) for mission critical operations
- Integration with public address and security CCTV systems
Applicable technologies: Leaky Feeder, Private LTE, and DAS/DRS.
Complex buildings and parking facilities
High‑rise buildings, corporate facilities, and underground parking structures face a common challenge: radio signals cannot penetrate concrete, steel, or the multiple structural layers within these environments. UQOMM designs and integrates DAS systems that provide indoor coverage for mobile operators, emergency services, and mission‑critical communications, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations.
- Unified system providing full coverage for all operators
- Compliance with fire safety communication standards (firefighter radio)
- Non intrusive design aligned with the building’s architectural layout
- High density WiFi to support large numbers of concurrent users
- Centralized management of the entire wireless infrastructure
Offshore platforms
Offshore platforms bring together the challenges of mining and those of the marine environment: salinity, continuous vibration, extreme temperatures, and the isolation of operating far from shore. UQOMM adapts its communication architectures to ensure reliable operations even under some of the world’s most demanding conditions.
- SOLAS compliant safety and emergency communications
- Robustness against salinity, vibration, and extreme thermal conditions
- Integration with positioning and platform management systems
- Connectivity to support automation and remote equipment operation
Applicable technologies: Leaky Feeder and DRS/DAS.
UQOMM
Matriz de sector por tecnología
| Technology | Mining | Tunnels | Metros | Building | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaky Feeder | |||||
| Private LTE | |||||
| DAS / DRS | |||||
| Spread Spectrum | |||||
| Personnel and asset localization | |||||
| Digital Mining | |||||
| Underground Wi-Fi | |||||
| Private 5G | |||||
| IoT for mining |
UQOMM
FAQ
1. What makes underground mining communication unique compared to other sectors?
Underground mining is the most demanding environment because it brings together, in a single space, all the factors that hinder communication: increasing depth, long and branching galleries, heavy‑machinery vibration, dust, humidity, and extreme temperatures. In addition, the communication network must extend as the extraction front advances, which requires an architecture that can scale in real time. Human life depends directly on the system functioning at all times.
2. Which safety regulations govern communication systems in vehicular tunnels?
Safety regulations differ according to the country and the nature of the infrastructure, yet vehicular tunnels exceeding 500 meters generally require emergency communication systems that provide coverage for rescue radio (fire, police, civil protection), emergency telephony, and, in many cases, FM rebroadcasting. In Europe, frameworks such as the SEVESO Directive apply, while in Latin America compliance is governed by each nation’s specific regulations. We design each system to meet the regulatory demands of the market in which it will be implemented.
3. How does a metro communication system differ from that of a vehicular tunnel?
Although both operate underground, their priorities differ significantly. Vehicular tunnels focus on emergency coverage for vehicles and rescue agencies, governed by strict safety regulations. Metro systems additionally require mission‑critical communications for rail‑traffic control (TETRA, GSM‑R, or railway LTE), passenger‑management functions in stations, and integrated PA and CCTV systems. These operational priorities shape the architecture of each system.
4. Can UQOMM deploy mobile coverage systems in underground parking structures or office buildings?
Yes. We design and integrate DAS (Distributed Antenna System) infrastructures that extend mobile‑operator coverage throughout high‑rise buildings and underground parking structures. When required by regulation, we also incorporate emergency‑radio coverage. Each solution is tailored to the building’s architecture, minimizing disruption and ensuring continuous operation.
5. What makes communication systems on offshore platforms uniquely challenging?
Offshore platforms combine constraints from the marine environment: salinity that degrades electronic components, constant vibration, extreme temperatures, and the impossibility of rapid maintenance in the event of a failure. Communications must also comply with SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) standards for safety in maritime environments.
6. Is UQOMM able to operate in multiple sectors simultaneously?
Yes. We operate simultaneously in mining, tunnels, metro systems, high‑rise buildings, and offshore platforms, supported by specialized teams and a common engineering methodology. Our international presence and local teams in strategic markets allow us to execute projects in parallel and maintain long‑term support and maintenance agreements. We carry out projects in mining, tunnel infrastructure, and urban systems in various countries. Our organizational structure enables us to manage multiple deployments simultaneously, supported by local teams in the key markets where we operate. We currently maintain active support and maintenance agreements in over 20 countries.
7. How long does a UQOMM installation usually take to complete?
Timelines vary according to the sector, project complexity, and overall scope. A DAS deployment in a building can be completed within weeks, whereas a Leaky Feeder network in a growing mine expands progressively as the operation advances. In every case, implementation is staged to minimize disruption to existing operations and maintain uninterrupted service.