MINE Site Technologies says its two-way through-the-earth (TTE) communication system’s coverage stretches to a depth of 554m.
The company’s announcement follows trials of the technology in New South Wales, at BHP Billiton’s West Cliff coal mine and Anglo Coal Australia’s Dartbrook coal mine in as well as underground coal mines in the United States.
The firm is hoping the technology will be given approval by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The communication system uses ultra-low-frequency signals to send text messages between underground and surface transceiver stations, with the underground stations intended to be installed at locations such as refuge bays and self-rescuer caches.
Both the surface and underground transceivers are about the size of a briefcase, with intrinsically safe battery backup supply to be available in 24, 48 and 96-hour configurations.
Mine Site Technologies says its TTE communication system was developed from research and development undertaken by the CSIRO ICT Centre.