Fiber optics – the future of mining companies

In an interview with Mexico Business News magazine, Mr. Maurício Takashima from Furukawa in Mexico speaks about the fiber optic option for the future of mining companies.

What are the main difficulties for mining companies regarding communication systems, and why is Furukawa the best option to solve them?

Communication is very important in all sectors. In mining, the greatest difficulty is that the companies’ infrastructure is outdated, which ends up hindering the transition to Mining 4.0. We help the industry by providing optical solutions with a higher bandwidth than the current structures in companies. In addition, mining companies face electromagnetic interference, which is easily bypassed by our solutions. Fiber optics is an essential technology for the future; customers who install it today will be able to enjoy the structure for at least 25 years ahead.

How can mining companies be sure that Furukawa’s optical solutions will meet their needs?

Furukawa provides not only the materials and supplies but also the consultancy to assist customers who do not yet have experience in fiber optics. The important thing is to support our customers and find the best solution for their demands.

When we provide this support, we always consider our customers’ CAPEX and OPEX, demonstrating the financial advantage of using fiber optics over metallic cabling. Then it becomes easy for the customer to realize that investing in a fiber optic network is much better and more competitive than traditional solutions.

What benefits do Furukawa solutions bring to mining companies?

Fiber optic cabling does not require as much space to be installed, which saves company resources. When we use metallic cabling, each channel (100m length) requires the use of switches for the transition to the new channel, and this is why many companies tend to spend more on equipment and a larger network, in addition to generating higher energy consumption. Fiber optics, on the other hand, reaches up to 20km without the need for intermediate equipment (requiring only the “end” equipment: the OLT and the ONT), generating massive resource savings. Furthermore, optical cabling offers higher data transmission rates, greater resistance to high and low temperatures, and better resistance to corrosion by oil, grease, and chemicals, which are very common in both underground and open-pit mining.

What are the “prerequisites” in infrastructure or resources for a company to start using these solutions?

Furukawa solutions adapt to any mining environment, including critical environments. Since many companies do not yet have fiber optics, they end up believing they need a very different infrastructure to implement the solutions. But it is exactly the opposite. If the company already has a metallic infrastructure, it can already be adapted for fiber optics.

What role do you play in the development of the mining industry?

Mining 4.0 is on a significant rise, and we believe we will play a key role in the sector’s transition. We are the only telecommunications manufacturer that provides the complete solution. We provide optical cabling, but also the equipment and all accessories. In addition, we have key alliances that allow us to offer a highly comprehensive solution.

What has Furukawa been working on?

We are constantly updating and looking to make improvements in various aspects of our fiber optic solution and industrial equipment as the mining sector continues to grow in Latin America. We believe it is a great opportunity for the sector to benefit from our technologies, with gains in efficiency and cost reduction.

Content adapted and translated from Mexico Business News magazine; check out the full interview at the link: https://mexicobusiness.news/mining/news/fiber-optics-future-mining