Mining’s Digital Future: Satellite Connectivity Bridges the IT/OT Gap

Mining’s Digital Future: Satellite Connectivity Bridges the IT/OT Gap

One of the world’s oldest and most essential industries, mining, is going through a major digital transformation. Satellite connectivity has become a crucial enabler of this transition as autonomous equipment, remote operations, and real-time monitoring reshape how mining sites operate in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments. The industry is moving from fragmented, tactical technology deployments to integrated IT/OT systems and multi-orbit architectures that deliver the right connectivity for every application, and unified operational visibility. In this episode of the Satellite World Briefing, John McCann, Director of Natural Resources & Telecom Practices at SES, explores how satellite connectivity is changing the mining industry. John takes us through the critical technological shifts reshaping mining operations, the role of multi-orbit connectivity in addressing the latency and bandwidth needed for everything from autonomous drilling systems to IoT sensors, and how satellite solutions are bridging the IT/OT convergence challenge. Additionally, he shares his vision for a future where satellite connectivity operates as an equal partner alongside terrestrial networks and 5G, seamlessly integrating into the fabric of global connectivity.

SatShow 2026: Jeffrey Hill, Chairman of SatShow, on What’s Next for the Space and Satellite Industry

As SATShow 2026 [https://www.satshow.com/] approaches, the satellite industry is entering a new era not only defined by rapid technological evolution but by a pivotal reckoning with long-term financial sustainability. The industry is competing, building, and proving itself like never before as multi-orbit architectures mature, direct-to-device services expand, and commercial players reshape how the market is evaluated. In this episode of the Satellite World Briefing, Jeffrey Hill [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreymhill/], Chairman of the Satellite Show, gives listeners a sneak peek at what to expect at this year’s event. Hill walks us through the key trends that are dominating the industry, like multi-orbit versus LEO, sovereign systems, protected SATCOM on the government and military side, and the evolving use cases for commercial connectivity. He also shares how AI is subtly becoming embedded into satellite operations and why this year’s Forum represents a shift in the way the industry tells its own story.

Conversations from 2025: Defining the Next Era of Satellite and Connectivity

The past year marked a period of significant progress across the satellite and connectivity landscape. In this first episode of 2026, The Satellite World Briefing podcast revisits the conversations from 2025 that encapsulated this momentum. Industry leaders discussed how software-defined satellites, hybrid satellite-IP networks, and next-generation mobility solutions are reshaping connectivity in broadcast, mobile, maritime, and aviation markets. These conversations revealed that new operational models and increased performance expectations are driving a growing convergence between terrestrial and space networks.

Connected at Sea: What’s Next for Maritime Connectivity

Joshua Flood [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaflood/?originalSubdomain=uk], Co-Founder and Director of Maritime at Valour Consultancy, joins our host in this episode of the Satellite World Briefing to give a preview of their Future of Maritime Connectivity 2025 Report [https://valourconsultancy.com/the-future-of-maritime-connectivity-seventh-edition/]. Flood covers a wide range of issues, including the growing significance of multi-orbit and hybrid connectivity architectures for today’s fleets, the main drivers behind broadband adoption at sea, and the critical role that collaboration plays throughout the satellite ecosystem. In the era of emerging LEO constellations, he further explores the ongoing development of Ku-band and GEO services and highlights the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the industry.

Hybrid Models for the Future of Media Distribution: Combining Satellite Scale with IP Resiliency

In the second episode of  Satellite World Briefing’s new media mini-series, Ruben Calzadilla [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-calzadilla-1784757/], Senior Technical Advisor at SES, and Dr. Ciro Noronha [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciro-noronha-b06b5a1/], President of the RIST Forum and Chief Technology Officer at Cobalt Digital, join host Lucas Hunsicker to discuss the advantages of hybrid satellite and IP delivery, why public internet alone cannot ensure reliability, and how broadcasters can future-proof content distribution with backward-compatible methods. As Calzadilla said: “Satellite handles scale, internet ensures resiliency, and together, they form a model that’s both efficient and future-proof.”