UQOMM
Communication for underground mining: coverage from the mine portal to the active face
The most demanding environment on the planet requires the most experienced integrator. At UQOMM, we have spent more than 30 years connecting mining operations across five continents, meeting the regulations of each market from day one.
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Why is underground mining the most demanding environment for communications
An active underground mine is one of the most hostile environments on the planet for any communication technology. Solid rock blocks any conventional radio signal. High‑voltage electrical cables generate permanent electromagnetic interference. Dust, 95% humidity, vibrations from heavy machinery, and extreme temperatures degrade electronic components within weeks if they are not specifically designed for the environment.
But the greatest challenge is not technical: it is dynamic. A mine is not a static infrastructure. The production faces advance hundreds of meters each month, galleries branch out, levels multiply, and the communication system must grow and adapt in real time, without interrupting productive operations or compromising safety protocols.
In this environment, communication is not a convenience: it is a safety condition regulated by law. A miner who loses contact with the surface in an emergency, an autonomous vehicle operator without a data link, or an evacuation alarm system that does not reach all active faces represent unacceptable risks with serious legal and human consequences.
UQOMM has spent more than 30 years solving this exact problem. Not as an equipment distributor, but as a complete systems integrator: we design the architecture, install certified components, train operational personnel, and maintain the system throughout the entire life of the mine.
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The specific challenges of communications in underground mining
1. Coverage in complex and changing geometries
Mining galleries are not straight lines: they have curves, ramps, branches, and level changes. The communication network must follow every meter of new gallery without creating areas without coverage. The design must anticipate future expansion and allow rapid extensions without interrupting the existing service.
2. Dynamic scalability as the mine advances
An installation in a developing mine is not a one‑time project, but a continuous process lasting several years. The communication system must be able to extend in phases, with maintenance personnel from the mine itself, without requiring the integrator’s intervention for every 200‑meter extension. Modular architecture is a non‑negotiable requirement.
3. Integration with automation and autonomous vehicles
Modern mines operate autonomous extraction equipment, driverless heavy‑tonnage trucks, and teleoperated drilling systems. All of them require a low‑latency, high‑availability data link that the communication system must guarantee, typically over a private LTE network built on the same cabling infrastructure used for voice.
4. Compliance with multiple simultaneous regulations
An international mining operation may be subject to the regulations of the country where it operates, the corporate standards of the mining company, and the requirements of industrial insurance. UQOMM manages compliance with all applicable regulations as part of the project design, not as an independent process.
Localización de personal y gestión de emergencias
La mayoría de las normativas mineras del mundo exigen sistemas de localización de personal (PLT, Personnel Location Tracking) que permitan conocer la posición de cada trabajador bajo tierra en todo momento. La red de comunicación es la infraestructura portante de estos sistemas, y su fiabilidad es crítica en situaciones de evacuación, derrumbe o rescate. UQOMM ofrece distintas alternativas.
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Regulatory Framework by Country
| Country | Regulation | Description | Relevance for communications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | DS-132 SERNAGEOMIN | Mining Safety Regulation. Requires communication and alarm systems throughout the full length of galleries. | Cobertura obligatoria de voz + alarmas de evacuación en todos los frentes activos. |
| Perú | DS 023 2017 EM | Reglamento de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional en Minería. Comunicaciones bidireccionales exigidas. | Voz bidireccional + localización de personal obligatoria en minas de gran profundidad. |
| México | NOM-032-STPS | Norma de seguridad en minas subterráneas de carbón. Comunicaciones y alarmas integradas. | Comunicación continua y sistemas de alarma en zonas de trabajo activo. |
| Australia | WHS Mining Regulations | Work Health and Safety Regulations. Emergency communication and specific alarm systems. | Mandatory PLT. Periodic documented coverage tests. |
| Sudáfrica | MHSA (Mine Health & Safety) | Mine Health and Safety Act. Operational and emergency communication system required by law. | Cobertura certificada antes de la apertura del nivel. Mantenimiento preventivo documentado. |
| Colombia | Decree 1335 / Decree 1886 | Reglamentos de Seguridad para minería de carbón y otras minerías subterráneas. | Continuous communication and automatic alarms in all work fronts. |
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Technologies that UQOMM applies in underground mining
Leaky Feeder
Private LTE
Spread Spectrum
Digital Mining
DAS/DRS
Leaky Feeder (radiating cable) — the backbone for voice and emergencies
The radiating cable is the foundational technology of any responsible underground mine. It distributes voice and radio signals along the entire gallery, from the mine portal to the deepest face, without dead zones. It extends as the operation advances and is fully compatible with the TETRA, DMR, and analog radios that mining uses as standard.
Private LTE — broadband for automation and autonomous vehicles
The private LTE network provides the bandwidth needed to operate autonomous extraction vehicles, real‑time video surveillance cameras, equipment telemetry, and IoT platforms. Unlike voice over Leaky Feeder, which prioritizes reliability in emergencies, private LTE enables the intelligent mine: real‑time production data, preventive equipment‑failure alerts, and remote control from the surface.
Digital Mining — the intelligent mine on a unified network
Digital Mining is the convergence of all the previous technologies into a single operational management platform. UQOMM acts as the integrator of the entire technology stack: the underground communication network is the backbone on which automation, data analytics, digital twin, and industrial asset management are deployed.
IoT para Minería — monitoreo continuo de variables críticas
Plataforma integrada de sensores que monitorea gasómetros (CO, CH4, NO2, O2), temperatura, humedad, vibración y ventilación en tiempo real. Los datos viajan sobre la red LTE privada o WiFi subterráneo y alimentan el centro de control operacional de superficie. Cuando un sensor detecta una anomalía, el sistema genera alertas automáticas y puede activar protocolos de evacuación.
5G Privado — la siguiente generación para automatización avanzada
Para minas que operan o planifican flotas de equipos autónomos de alta densidad, el 5G privado proporciona la latencia ultrabaja (inferior a 5 ms) y la capacidad de dispositivos simultáneos necesarias para la automatización avanzada. Habilita gemelos digitales de la operación, realidad aumentada para mantenimiento predictivo y coordinación en tiempo real de vehículos autónomos sin colisionesPara minas que operan o planifican flotas de equipos autónomos de alta densidad, el 5G privado proporciona la latencia ultrabaja (inferior a 5 ms) y la capacidad de dispositivos simultáneos necesarias para la automatización avanzada. Habilita gemelos digitales de la operación, realidad aumentada para mantenimiento predictivo y coordinación en tiempo real de vehículos autónomos sin colisiones
Success Story
Copper Mine, Chile
Leaky Feeder TETRA system + private LTE network in underground operation. Integration with personnel localization and automatic evacuation alarms. DS 132 SERNAGEOMIN compliance from day one. System in continuous operation with preventive maintenance by the local UQOMM team.
See full case
Deployed technologies
Leaky Feeder TETRA
Private LTE network
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FAQ
1. What communication system is mandatory in an underground mine?
The requirements depend on the country, but in practically all relevant markets at least the following are mandatory: a bidirectional voice communication system that covers all active galleries, an evacuation alarm system audible at all work faces, and in advanced markets such as Australia or Chile, real time personnel localization. Leaky Feeder (radiating cable) is the reference technology that meets all these requirements simultaneously. UQOMM designs each system in compliance with the specific regulations of the country of operation.
2. What happens to communications when the mine grows and new galleries are opened?
It is one of the distinguishing features of Leaky Feeder: the system is easily extended by adding cable sections and repeater amplifiers as the production faces advance. It is not necessary to redesign the overall architecture or interrupt the existing service. The mine’s maintenance personnel can carry out the extensions with basic training. UQOMM designs the initial architecture anticipating future expansion, which makes each extension a standard process.
3. What is the difference between Leaky Feeder and private LTE in mining?
They are not mutually exclusive: they complement each other on the same infrastructure. Leaky Feeder provides voice coverage, TETRA or DMR radio, and emergency alarms with maximum reliability and without requiring licensed spectrum. Private LTE provides the high speed data layer for automation, video surveillance, and autonomous vehicles. The optimal architecture for a modern mine combines both technologies on a shared physical infrastructure, reducing installation and maintenance costs.
4. Can UQOMM manage long term system maintenance?
Yes. UQOMM offers preventive and corrective maintenance contracts with local technical teams in the main mining markets where it operates. Preventive maintenance includes periodic inspections of the radiating cable, amplifier calibration, documented coverage tests, and firmware updates for active systems. In the event of an incident, local teams ensure short response times without needing to bring technicians from the central headquarters.
5. How does the communication system integrate with personnel localization?
Personnel localization systems (PLT) use the communication infrastructure as the carrier network. Each worker carries an RFID tag or a WiFi/LTE device that communicates their position to the readers distributed along the radiating cable or the WiFi access points. The management software consolidates the positions in real time at the surface control center. In the event of an evacuation, the system makes it possible to know within seconds whether anyone remains underground and in which area.
6. What happens to communications during a power outage in the mine?
UQOMM’s communication systems are designed with emergency power (UPS) that guarantees operability for at least two hours after a supply interruption. In mines with high availability requirements, redundant power systems with higher capacity batteries are implemented. Evacuation alarms have power supply priority over any other system.
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Related industrial sectors
Application environment
Vehicular tunnels
Connection point with mining:
Vehicular tunnels share the need to maintain reliable communications in underground spaces where conventional coverage is not sufficient. The experience developed in mining makes it possible to implement solutions adapted to this type of infrastructure.
Application environment
Offshore platforms
Connection point with mining:
Just as in mining, offshore operations require reliable communications in high demand operational environments, where system continuity and availability are fundamental to the operation.
Application environment
Metro tunnels
Connection point with mining:
Underground railway systems present similar challenges in terms of coverage, communications, and operational continuity. Experience in mining environments provides criteria applicable to this type of critical infrastructure.
UQOMM
UQOMM’s experience in underground mining
+30
Years in mining
Integrating communication systems in active mining operations
+30
Countries
With Leaky Feeder and private LTE installations in continuous operation
5
Continents
Experience with mining regulations across all relevant markets
6
Technologies
Applicable to the mining sector, integrable into a single architecture