East Indian State Government Department Links More Than 100 Subscribers at Mining Sites and Offices

The Challenge

Prior to the establishment of the PTP network, connectivity was lacking between the office of the Deputy Directorate of Mines (DDM), other mining offices and governmentmanned check gates. Low levels of LAN penetration among private mining sites and stakeholders further complicated the situation for the mining heartland of Odisha. Digital intervention was a challenge, especially considering the rugged and remote terrain between various nodes, hubs and end users

In 2010, the i3MS IT solution was created by the Government of Odisha for the Steel & Mines Department. Provisioning of the wireless broadband network in the mining circles of Joda, Koira, Jajpur and Keonjhar in Odisha found its beginnings within the i3MS solution. The i3MS solution authorizes the movement of mineral ore consignment and relies on an electronic Transit Pass (eTP) with a dedicated permit system.

Given the rugged terrain, remote area, lack of large network backbone and the number of entities involved, fiber connectivity was not a feasible option. Processes were continually upgraded through technology due to the sensitive nature of mineral transactions, weighment, dispatch, receipt and end use; a wireless solution was needed to keep up.

The Solution

Beginning in 2010, CSM Technologies Pvt. Ltd. decided to connect the Department of Steel and Mines with rapidly deployable, high-speed PTP backhaul solutions from Cambium Networks. CSM Technologies began by linking four check gates in Joda and followed by linking six check gates in Koira. The network has extended to cover more locations ever since.

The network being used by the Department of Steel and Mines is operating both line-of-sight (LoS) and near-line-of-sight (NLoS) devices in the unlicensed band: PTP 100, PTP 230, PTP 450 and PTP 650 backhaul units. Additional equipment includes Common Module Management, Universal GPS, a PTP sync unit, reflector discs and a radio device monitoring tool.

CSM Technologies Pvt. Ltd. followed these steps to set up the
network:

• Study the feasibility of the location, link planning and network modeling.
• Vet internally and with Cambium Networks for the optimal solution.
• Prepare a bill of materials and procure the hardware components.
• Install the hardware components and seek support from Cambium Networks if needed.
• Configure and test with end users.
• Train the end users and technical team on how to extend support and maintain the network.

The Results

The network currently has more than 100 institutional subscribers including the office of the DDM, mining offices, field offices and private mining sites. Wireless broadband in a remote location with low internet penetration has made it possible to deploy software solutions for various use cases and to different stakeholders in the mining ecosystem.

Results for their business include:

• High network availability: Applications requiring connectivity for daily operations are supported.
• Sustainable and scalable: The initial grid between the office of the DDM and mining offices has grown to provide connectivity to private mining sites in Joda, Koira, Jajpur and Keonjhar.
• High range: Today, the network includes long PTP links. The distance between SAIL’s Bolani mines to KJST Pillar 2 is 28 kilometers; the link between OMC Gandhamardan and Daitari hilltop in Jajpur is 70 kilometers.
• Increased turnaround time: Processes critical to mineral movement, such as verification at check gates, run more smoothly

Best Practices

• To achieve an optimal outcome, collaborate with all teams involved before setup and installation.
• Maintain bulk device deployment across a closed user group for long-term cost saving