Vocus, Australia's specialist digital infrastructure provider, has signed one of Australia's leading resources companies, Roy Hill, as the first customer for its forthcoming Horizon cable, a new 2000km fibre link which will connect Geraldton and Port Hedland through the Pilbara in Western Australia back to Vocus Intercapital backbone.

The deal marks a new era of connectivity and choice for businesses operating in the resources-rich Pilbara, with the Horizon cable being the first competitive fibre infrastructure built in the region.

Roy Hill, under the leadership of its Executive Chairman, Dr Gina Rinehart AO, is implementing ongoing improvements to its already high-quality amenities for people based on site.

For Roy Hill, Vocus’ Horizon fibre-optic cable will provide 100Gbps of secure, reliable, metro-grade broadband, enabling Roy Hill to transform the living and working experience of more than 2,000 mine site-based employees.

It will also serve as a critical infrastructure enabler for Roy Hill and parent company Hancock Prospecting's future growth, productivity, and innovation such as its ambitious AI initiatives that are also being championed by Dr Rinehart.

Matt Walsh, Chief Customer Officer and head of Customer Delivery, Fibre & Support at Vocus highlighted the transformative potential of the project. "We're changing the landscape of what's possible for people and technology in mining, and we are closing the final gap in Vocus’ national fibre backbone connecting all mainland capitals,” Walsh said.

“With 100Gbps of capacity for Roy Hill, we'll deliver a home-like internet experience to each user, across a camp of several thousand people. This means they’ll have an even better experience on site, including staying in touch with family and friends and accessing the best entertainment options in their home away from home.

"The ripple effect of this unprecedented level of connectivity will be felt across the industry, and we're proud to be leading that charge with Roy Hill.”

The new battle ground for talent

Competition for good staff is fierce in West Australia and in the resources industry, and connectivity that enables workers to maintain their social bonds, lifestyle and health and wellbeing has become a key feature for attracting talent.

The new Horizon link will provide the large fly-in fly-out work force at the Pilbara iron ore mine with real-time video connections to their families and friends, high-definition streaming entertainment and enhanced site safety and security monitoring.

Kate Flanagan, Executive General Manager Information Management & Technology at Roy Hill, said it’s a critical part of Roy Hill's broader vision for providing the best technology to support growth and worker well-being.

"Our workers at the mine will enjoy similar – or better – connectivity than that of a city hotel, improving well-being and overall experience,” Flanagan said. “We are committed to being an employer of choice, coming from a position of care for our workers. Enhanced connectivity allows us to create a work and living environment that's both productive and conducive to our employees' well-being. We already have staff tell us that Roy Hill is the best mining company in Australia and innovation like this cements that position.”

Foundation for next-generation mining

Vocus’ Horizon cable also provides the foundational digital infrastructure to enable Roy Hill to expand and grow its business, while making significant productivity gains.

“With secure, reliable, high-capacity connectivity, we are set to redefine the future of mining in Australia, by building a workplace where technology-enabled productivity and human experience are given great priority,” Flanagan said.

“It will be foundational to future capabilities including autonomous haulage, the potential to expand additional mines and pits, and introducing further technologies that will feed data-driven decision-making processes, enabling our growth and productivity,” she said.

Making the connection to high performance AI

"Advanced connectivity is a cornerstone for our rapidly evolving AI initiatives," said Greg Steer, Head of Technology Operations at Roy Hill. “Whether we’re looking at predictive maintenance, process optimisation, or safety monitoring, our ability to collect, transmit, and analyse vast amounts of data hinges on the robustness of our network. The Horizon project is a significant step in Roy Hill’s focus of being a globally recognised, leading, AI-driven mining operation."

Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairman, Dr Gina Rinehart AO, said, “This partnership dovetails with the ongoing AI work across our companies. Roy Hill has been identifying and scaling pragmatic applications of AI, including areas such as maintenance, commercial operations, and safety monitoring. The high-speed connectivity at Roy Hill through Horizon will augment these AI capabilities."

The connectivity provided by Horizon will be scalable for future growth and highly reliable due to its protected diverse path architecture. It forms part of a larger ‘figure of eight’ network between Perth and the Pilbara, linking to Vocus’ Darwin Jakarta Singapore Cable system, which provides an under-sea route. This design physically separate northern and southern routes from the Roy Hill Mine provide extra protection against extreme weather events.