#remoteconnectivity

In the modern age of industrial automation, there is a need for communication between the control systems and the peripheral devices. The LENZE DVI-USB EXTENDER module is required for the transmission of DVI video signals and USB data over long distances, thus providing the necessary interruption between the machines, the operator panels, and the computers involved in the industrial setup.

Using this module, industries can maintain real-time monitoring and also control remote devices using a USB. It is helpful for automation engineers, as they need efficient and efficient signal transmission over a long distance.

We, at Anadi Automation, make available the LENZE DVI-USB EXTENDER module in new, reboxed, and refurbished conditions, with the option to repair and service exchange. This module comes with a one-year warranty and 24x7 support, ensuring your production never stops.

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By Ato Asefoah Dadzie

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Connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. And nowhere is that more evident than in the remote mining zones of Ghana and across the continent. As operations spread farther into previously untouched areas, the demand for dependable, high-speed, and secure telecommunications infrastructure has gone from being “nice to have” to absolutely critical.

At JOBEX COMPANY LTD, we’ve supported numerous mining camps and project sites where the first request, right after power and water, is: “Can we get stable Wi-Fi?” It’s a simple question. But the answer is layered.

First, let’s talk about what’s driving this demand.

Mining today is no longer entirely analog. Exploration data, safety systems, time tracking, inventory management, even equipment diagnostics—many of these now rely on cloud-based systems or require access to internal company networks. Engineers want to upload field readings. Managers want to hold virtual check-ins. Staff want to contact families during downtime. Connectivity weaves through every part of site life.

So what’s trending?

Satellite Internet Is Getting Smarter Traditional VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) systems have long been the backbone of remote communications. But latency and bandwidth limitations often made them frustrating. Today, new generations of LEO (low Earth orbit) satellite systems—think services like Starlink—are beginning to transform what’s possible. We recently installed a satellite system for a client in a gold exploration zone near Wa, and the difference in call quality, file transfer speed, and even video conferencing was night and day.

That said, satellite isn’t always plug-and-play. Weather, topography, and data caps still need to be managed with care. And backup systems remain important.

Hybrid Infrastructure Is the Future We’re seeing a trend toward hybrid systems—where a mining site may use satellite for core data transfer but switch to point-to-point radio links or cellular repeaters for internal communications. This provides redundancy, which is crucial during emergencies or maintenance downtime. One major mine we worked with had a dual system: satellite for the camp, and a microwave relay for the processing plant. If one failed, the other picked up seamlessly.

Security Is a Growing Priority As connectivity increases, so do risks. Cybersecurity is no longer something only big corporations worry about. In remote zones, equipment can be hacked, operations can be disrupted, and sensitive exploration data can be stolen. We now recommend basic cybersecurity protocols for every camp—VPNs, encrypted routers, regular password audits. It’s not expensive. It’s just not optional anymore.

Mesh Networks for Internal Mobility Some of our most successful deployments have used mesh networks within the camp area—particularly where workers need to move freely without losing signal. These networks create a blanket of connectivity across dorms, kitchens, workshops, and offices, enabling real-time monitoring and communication. It also reduces the load on core satellite bandwidth since internal traffic stays local.

Staff Welfare and Retention This one often gets overlooked. A connected worker is a happier worker. In a mining camp where teams rotate in and out, access to internet and calls home isn’t a perk—it’s part of their mental health support. We’ve had clients report lower turnover after investing in modest but stable connectivity for their sites. Think of it as digital hospitality.

But it’s not without challenges. In rural Ghana, network equipment must contend with heat, dust, humidity, and occasional power surges. We’ve adapted by using protective housing, surge protectors, and solar backups. We’ve also trained on-site personnel to do basic diagnostics, so they don’t have to wait days for a technician to travel in.

At JOBEX COMPANY LTD, this approach—layered, practical, and built for field conditions—is what defines our service delivery. We don’t install and walk away. We monitor. We adjust. We build with failure in mind.

It’s this ethos that I believe helped earn us a nomination for the 2025 Go Global Awards, happening this November in London. Hosted by the International Trade Council, the event brings together global companies navigating real operational terrain—not just markets on paper. It’s a space for collaboration, for trading lessons learned the hard way, and for building smarter, more connected futures.

The traditional hub and spoke model was predominant before the widespread use of SD-WAN. In a traditional model, to move data from the cloud, the data has to move to the data centre and then to the final destination. On the contrary, in the case of SD-WAN, Points of Presence or PoPs are distributed in the data centres across the globe, facilitating the transfer of data without routing through the data centre.

Before discussing whether SD-WAN is beneficial over traditional WAN architecture, let us understand both concepts.

Traditional WAN Several LANs located at different geographical locations are connected with one another in traditional networking. Traditional WAN connects branch offices and remote offices to the centralised network to access applications, share data and perform business functions. Conventional WAN was seen as a reliable means to deliver data, but as the business expands across geographical boundaries, the data has to travel through multiple carriers. This could lead to network congestion, packet loss, call drops, etc. Moreover, each and every server and router must be updated every time a change in policy occurs due to its distributed nature. User experience is compromised when streaming HD videos, virtual reality or during video conferencing.

SD-WAN SD-WAN connects hardware from various locations. Different connections are used for transporting data, including private lines, Virtual Private Networks or VPNs, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), broadband and LTE. SD-WAN finds the most efficient route to transport the data, whereas traditional WAN architecture uses corporate data centre connections to route the data.

Types of SD-WAN Architecture Enterprises can opt for three types of architecture, on-premises SD-WAN, cloud-enabled SD-WAN, and cloud-enabled with backbone SD-WAN.

On-Premises SD-WAN: It is a plug-and-play SD-WAN box that can be installed on your premises or onsite. It does not connect to the cloud gateways but uses company connections.

Cloud-enabled SD-WAN: This configuration uses both software and hardware. It uses an onsite SD-WAN device and connects to the virtual gateway. In turn, the gateways are connected to the cloud providers like Microsoft Office 365, AWS, Azure, DropBox and Salesforce.

Cloud enable plus backbone: Sometimes issues arise while using the internet with SD-WAN, to avoid this snag, backbone is used. It connects the enterprise premises to the cloud PoP and from here the traffic is diverted to the private fibre optic network backbone. The low latency private backbone results in minimum packet loss and jitters.

Why is SD-WAN better than traditional WAN? Thanks to the internet, businesses are transforming faster as the world is shrinking. The Pandemic has forced us to work from remote locations, and SD-WAN perfectly fits in this space. Let’s see why SD-WAN is better than traditional WAN.

Traditional WAN allows prioritisation and traffic predictability but at a high cost. On the contrary, SD-WAN cuts down on internet costs, and users must spend big money on bandwidth upgrades. SD-WAN offers flexible network connectivity as it can run both on LTE and broadband. SD-WAN is affordable and allows app prioritisation without any packet loss.

Traditional WAN is private and allows secure communication. In comparison, SD-WAN offers end-to-end encryption across a VPN connection with an option to add and merge additional security layers, such as firewalls, for unified threat management.

In traditional WAN, changes must be configured manually due to their distributed nature. In SD-WAN, you can scale as your business grows. Just leave it to your managed service provider, and they will do the rest.

SD-WAN is a reliable way to receive and deliver network services to your organisation. Though, some organisations adopt hybrid WAN. An organisation should select the appropriate network based on the long-term and short-term objectives in mind. Since each organisation has unique requirements, there is no one size fits all concept. You all require a skilled workforce for maintaining and managing network services. If you are ready for a change, then train your network professionals in SD-WAN for a seamless transformation.