The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone handset for underground two-way communications, has received MSHA approval for use in US coal mines. This is the latest component of MST’s tracking and communication system to be approved and completes the system’s ability to meet the conditions of the MINER Act 2006. The MinePhone is also relevant to hard rock mine operators, as MinePhones are already deployed in metalliferous mines.

The MinePhone uses the MSHA approved ImPact Wi-Fi network or the standard non-IS ImPact network as the communication backbone to provide two way voice and texting along the primary and secondary escapeways underground. The MinePhone telephone handset allows private dialling between other phones in the network and the mine’s outside telephone system, as well as text messaging. Additionally, the MinePhone has 24 channels, Push to Talk functionality and emergency calling, emulating the functionally of many radios currently in use, but with many other functions available.

The Wireless Network Switches (WNS’s) are the key part of the underground digital backbone and also act as readers for the Wi-Fi RFID Tags that are carried by miners underground, allowing a single communication network to provide both underground communication and tracking throughout the mine. “MST’s MinePhone is a breakthrough in underground voice and messaging communications, offering functionality never before available in coal mines” said Lloyd Zenari, CEO of MST. “The safety and productivity benefits for mining operations have quickly become apparent in metal mines and we expect the acceptance to be quicker still in coal operations”.