The oil, gas, and mining industries share a defining quality: operations often take place in remote, hazardous environments where connectivity is both complex and mission critical. Organizations operating in these industries are embracing digital transformation, leveraging advanced technologies like automation, predictive maintenance, and real-time monitoring systems that depend on continuous, high-performance communications. In many of these environments, the solution starts approximately 8,000 kilometers above Earth in medium Earth orbit (MEO), but it does not rely on a single orbit. The most resilient industrial networks rely on integrated connectivity architectures that combine terrestrial infrastructure with multi-orbit satellite systems to deliver consistent performance across the most remote locations.
Building Connectivity Around Operational Outcomes
Modern extraction operations depend on a growing ecosystem of digital technologies. Autonomous haul trucks, connected drilling systems, digital twins, and predicative maintenance platforms all rely on consistent, high-performance connectivity to function effectively.
These technologies are often designed in test environments with abundant bandwidth and low latency, creating a gap when deployed to the field. Bridging that gap requires more than a single connectivity solution. It requires architecture that can adapt to varying conditions while maintaining performance and reliability.
By integrating MEO, GEO, and LEO with terrestrial networks, multi-orbit connectivity allows operators to align connectivity with application requirements and operational priorities. Rather than focusing on the strengths of any single orbit, this approach enables organizations to dynamically manage traffic, optimize application performance, and ensure redundancy. These are crucial in environments where downtime can result in significant financial loss or safety risks.
As John McCann, Natural Resources Lead at SES, explained in an interview with Satellite World, “MEO can deliver multi-gigabit services in geographic areas that have no terrestrial infrastructure. This means a mine or energy production site in a remote area can enjoy a digitization experience as if it was connected via fiber or microwave.”
Within a multi-orbit framework, MEO plays a key role in supporting the performance needs of data-intensive industrial applications by delivering high-throughput, reliable connectivity across wide geographic areas. “I see MEO being orchestrated with other orbits, edge compute IT applications and OT systems to ensure maximum uptime and digital experience for today’s and tomorrow’s applications,” McCann said.
Enabling IT and OT Convergence in the Field
Across extraction industries, the convergence of IT and OT systems is introducing new operational demands. While enterprise IT and operational control systems were once separate domains, their shared connectivity requirements mean they are now deeply interconnected.
Corporate networks must now extend beyond centralized offices into distributed industrial environments, supporting everything from enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to real-time machine controls. IT systems depend on reliable, high-bandwidth connection for cloud access, application delivery, and data analytics. At the same time, OT systems require deterministic, always-on communications to support machine automation, sensor telemetry, and remote operations.
Meeting both sets of requirements simultaneously is a core challenge for operators. This convergence depends on networking solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure. Satellite connectivity must support standard protocols and architectures to ensure interoperability and scalability across diverse operational environments.
As Maarten Verhaegh, Energy and Resource Practice Director at SES, noted, “MEO is a highly reliable and high bandwidth service for data communications. IT departments rely on it for application delivery, digital twin synchronization, and sensor data between device and cloud. OT systems need uninterrupted communications that support machine automation, sensors telemetry and remote experts via extended reality.”
When satellite networks operate as standards-based data communications platforms, they can integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise architectures. This allows organizations to extend consistent network environments from headquarters to remote sites, simplifying management while improving security and stability.
Multi-Orbit in Action
The benefits of multi-orbit are already being noticed in real-world deployments. At the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), traditional terrestrial connectivity was not a viable option because of the remote location. By leveraging SES’s O3b mPOWER next-generation MEO satellite system as part of a broader connectivity strategy, the operation has been able to support real-time communications from exploration through full-scale production.
Within this environment, MEO provides the high-throughput, low-latency foundation required for data-intensive applications, while GEO adds additional coverage and redundancy. This layered approach allows real-time communications across exploration, development, and production, allowing the operation to scale digital capabilities while maintaining performance and reliability.
This multi-orbit connectivity supports continuous access to cloud-based applications, real-time performance monitoring systems, and digital twin models that improve operational visibility and decision-making across the site. As one of the largest and fastest-growing copper mining complexes in the world, Kamoa-Kakula demonstrates how integrated connectivity can support long-term operational growth in even the most remote industrial environments.
Addressing Deployment Considerations
Practical deployment considerations, such as terminal size, installation complexity, and cost, remain important factors for industrial operations. Advances in hardware design are helping reduce these barriers, making satellite connectivity more accessible across a wider range of industrial applications.
“Currently the terminal size and cost are challenging but not insurmountable for use today,” Verhaegh said. “SES has invested heavily in flat-panel technologies that will reduce the cost, size and serviceability.” As terminal technology evolves, installation requirements are expected to decrease, enabling faster deployments across multiple sites and supporting more flexible network designs.
A Growing Role in Industrial Connectivity
For mining, oil, and gas companies operating in increasingly complex environments, space connectivity has become a foundational component of safe and efficient operations. As these industries become even more reliant on advanced technologies, the role of satellite connectivity will only continue to expand. While MEO stands out as a “sweet spot” in the orbital realm, it should not be thought of as a standalone solution. When combined with other orbits and terrestrial networks, it helps deliver the performance, reliability, and flexibility required to support modern industrial operations.
