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Telecommunications Unearths Economic Savings

Pedro Hoyos - GlobalSat
Deputy Director of Commercial, Innovation, and Marketing

STORY INLINE POST

Wed, 10/19/2016 - 15:18

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Q: In what ways are the Internet of Things (IoT), SCADA, and Big Data impacting the productivity of key industries in Mexico?

A: We connect SCADA technology, which requires a low bandwidth and is a low-cost service, enabling companies to keep efficient records. In terms of IoT, much of the equipment in mining must be monitored and a satellite link ensures the continuity of information, and it is the only option due to budget restrictions. One of the problems to have emerged from Big Data is the vast amount of information being generated from all sources, which means that a tremendous amount of equipment is being connected to the web. For this scenario we have developed several effective solutions. When we gather data, rather than sending it directly to the client, the client installs equipment on our NOC and we process a proportion of the information. The client is able to isolate the important information through our systems to send to the mainframe, unloading significant capacity from their site. The connection is extremely secure, and the equipment is located on a high-availability NOC. This began as a pilot project around three years ago, and has since been developed with encouraging initial results.

Q: In what way has the drop in commodity prices impacted the demand for your services?

A: Companies realize how essential our solutions are when commodities like oil or metal drop. We have also developed new solutions to address the current issues within these industries. We have a tariff where the client pays only for the amount of bandwidth used, and if the initial purchase limit is exceeded more can be bought. We have also given the client the flexibility and power through the cloud to login to their account to monitor usage levels. These kinds of services all include filtering and bandwidth control so this mitigates costs and allows the client tighter controls on consumption levels. This solution has been easy to implement as most clients already have the required equipment installed and have trained personnel to work with this equipment. Therefore, the solution can be used to limit costs and transmit only the required information instead of a steady stream that could not be closely controlled.

Q: The mining sector differs greatly from that of oil and gas, so what is your strategy for negotiating this segment?

A: One of the main problems of Mexico’s mining industry is security, and even though mineral prices have not increased we have been making steady progress within the sector. There are a number of reasons for these trends, including the fact that our services reduce the need for travel and provide access to telecommunication services that translate into a necessity as a service provider. Mine directors seldom travel and instead use videoconferencing facilities and data provided by us. This reduces travelling expenses, risk, and provides real-time information. We have a team of sales representatives that visit the mines periodically in order to disseminate the recent trends and evaluate industry needs, and in this we are unique in the market.

Q: With companies like Facebook now introducing ‘free basic’ services, what does this mean for the satellite industry?

A: We do not anticipate a drop in the need for satellite services in Mexico since it is lacking in rural parts. We are beginning to provide more integrated services so we do not depend on simply delivering a link. Several mining operations need voice services, and we deliver solutions that include the voice component, meaning that we provide the equipment, the identification, and all the services the company could need. This is not just a satellite link but also a telephone service, a content distribution solution, a back-up network, and a monitoring system.

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