$48k Underground System Cable for Tuvatu Completed
The $48,000 installation of the underground leaky feeder cable at the Tuvatu mine in Nadi has been completed. This new installion is expected to improve communications for employees while working underground.
Tuvatu mine which is still under construction has never used this advanced form of communications before as they have never proceeded to underground mining yet.
The best factor of having good communications underground is the enhancement of Health and Safety for the mining workers in a dangerous environment.
This cable also carries data signals with speeds up to 700 mbits/s allowing cameras, telephones, WIFI and other data service to be used underground.
All equipment used on the cable in the tunnel will be powered with power sent down the cable from the top with standby batteries at the head end to provide a failure free system.
The project was carried out by a locally owned company known as Communications (COMS) Limited.
COMS Limited managing director Richard Lucas said this type of installation is the first of its type to be done in Fiji.
Mr Lucas said the cable was made in Singapore and imported out of Australia.
Beneficial features of the cable are:
■A leaky feeder is a coaxial cable with an open structure in the outer section of the cable allowing the radio signals to leak out into the areas around the cable.
■Radiation is useful up to 20 metres from the cable.
■When the cable is installed in a tunnel it allows communications to be made anywhere in the tunnel.
Low powered radios and low radiation levels protect the operators in the tunnel when using blasting material from causing any problems.
■Standard waterproof two-way radios are used in the tunnels.
■Every 350 metres along the cable special amplifiers are used and the cable can be extended for many kilometres.
The initial Tuvatu installation is only 500 metres but can be extended as the mine develops.
COMS Limited
COMS Limited opened in 1976 providing communications equipment for the Energy Fiji Limited.
The company remained inactive until 1993 and has been operating fully since that time.
The company supplies communications and broadcast equipment in Fiji and around the Pacific with projects in Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea for various organisations
In 2019, COMS provided all the communications facilities for the Eco Challenge Fiji 2019.
COMS supplies broadcast FM and television equipment for MAI TV, Hope FM and Mix FM and operates five sites around Viti Levu.