Optimising Satellite Communications.
Transforming satellite connectivity to support critical business operations and improve global collaboration.
Executive Summary
First Quantum Minerals relied heavily on satellite technology to enable communication across its remote African mining sites and headquarters in Perth, Australia. As the organisation grew rapidly during a commodity boom, increased traffic resulted in bandwidth saturation, deteriorating call quality, reducing operational efficiency. Tasked with solving this challenge while reducing satellite costs, our team deployed Riverbed SteelHead devices, optimised network performance, and prioritised mission-critical traffic. The results included a 68% reduction in satellite utilisation and dramatic improvements in communication reliability and speed, ensuring seamless collaboration across the organisation.
Background
First Quantum Minerals operates in remote locations where traditional fibre and high-speed internet solutions were not viable due to cost and accessibility challenges. (2005) The organisation relied on 14 strategically placed satellite dishes to facilitate essential communication and data transfer between African mine sites and headquarters in Perth. As copper commodity demand surged, operational requirements intensified, leading to bandwidth congestion and deteriorating connectivity. With senior leadership based in Perth AU reliant on seamless communication for strategic decisions, addressing these issues became a critical business priority.
The Challenge
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Bandwidth congestion due to increased communication demands, causing poor call quality and video performance.
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Rising satellite communication costs, creating pressure to reduce expenses while improving performance.
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Latency issues at satellite edge locations, impacting application visibility and mission-critical performance.
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The need to prioritise traffic for essential operations while maintaining connectivity for non-critical functions.
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Ensuring reliable and secure data transfer to support decision-making in remote and challenging environments.
Solution
Research and Analysis
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Conducted extensive research on network optimisation tools and tested solutions from Riverbed and Juniper.
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Collaborated with Cisco to adjust Quality of Service (QoS) settings, addressing chattiness, jitter, and redundancies.
Deployment of Riverbed SteelHead
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Chose Riverbed SteelHead for its ease of installation, intuitive management, and ability to optimise satellite bandwidth.
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Prioritised critical traffic across high utilisation links and addressed intermittent connectivity challenges.
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Accelerated SSL/TLS encrypted traffic and optimised application delivery to satellite edge locations.
Implementation
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Deployed SteelHead devices across all 14 satellite locations and at the Perth headquarters.
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Configured prioritisation for essential communications, including voice, video, and application traffic.
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Monitored performance metrics to ensure ongoing optimisation and network stability.
Results
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Reduced satellite utilisation by 68% over a three-month period.
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Decreased CIFS WAN utilisation by 98%, significantly improving file transfer efficiency.
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Shortened PST email file transfer times from 29 hours to 3-4 minutes.
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Enhanced reliability and satisfaction, with users reporting noticeable improvements in connectivity.
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Enabled the organisation to manage bandwidth costs effectively while supporting rapid growth.
Insights and Lessons Learned
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Effective QoS and optimisation strategies ensured that essential communications were not disrupted, we prioritised mission critical traffic
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Creating collaborative vendor relationships was so important, and partnering with Cisco and Riverbed was key to deploying a scalable and effective solution,
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Regular performance tracking and fine-tuning of the network optimised long-term results.
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We adopted a user centric approach and Incorporating user feedback ensured that the solution addressed real-world challenges and improved satisfaction.
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The implementation set a foundation for managing evolving communication demands as the organisation continued to grow.
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This case study highlights how innovative network optimisation strategies and collaborative vendor relationships can transform satellite connectivity, ensuring reliable communication even in the most remote and challenging environments.
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My Role
As the Network Manager at First Quantum Minerals, I was accountable for designing and delivering a solution to address the organisation’s bandwidth challenges and communication bottlenecks. My role included
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Leading the research, analysis, and selection process for network optimisation tools.
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Coordinating with vendors, including Cisco and Riverbed, to implement robust solutions tailored to our unique satellite environment.
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Overseeing the deployment of Riverbed SteelHead devices across global locations, ensuring seamless integration and minimal disruption.
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Prioritising business critical traffic while optimising overall satellite utilisation to reduce costs.
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Collaborating with teams across headquarters and remote sites to ensure alignment and user satisfaction with the new solution.
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By focusing on both technical excellence and business outcomes, I ensured that the new network infrastructure met the organisation’s needs for reliable, efficient, and cost-effective communication.