Most mining operations have more network capability than their current devices can access. The IS380.1 from i.safe Mobile closes that gap, without replacing the infrastructure or workflows already in place.
Ask a communications manager what keeps them up at night, and it’s rarely “the radio doesn’t work”. VHF and UHF networks remain reliable for voice. What they cannot do is tell you where a lone worker stopped moving or push a digital permit to a haul truck driver. That capability gap is widening and closing it requires a device that survives a Zone 1 hazardous area and a full shift underground without demanding retraining.
Two networks, one device
The IS380.1 does not force a choice between legacy radio and 4G LTE – it runs both simultaneously. Via Radio over IP (RoIP) gateways, users communicate in real time with colleagues on conventional VHF/UHF handhelds, same channel, no perceptible delay, no rip-and-replace. For sites mid-migration or running hybrid fleets, this bridging function is the architecture, not a stopgap, letting the transition happen on the mine’s own timeline.
What 4G delivers underground
The leaky feeder cable, which has long been the backbone of underground communications, now carries LTE frequencies alongside, or instead of, conventional radio signals. Private LTE base stations feed the network, and the IS380.1 connects as a standard endpoint. Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) and 3GPP-compliant Mission Critical PTT (MCPTx) add network-level call prioritisation, dedicated emergency channels, and end-to-end encryption.
GPS tracking, lone worker monitoring, digital permits, and real-time data integration with surface systems run on the same device. The form factor doesn’t change. This is a major factor in adoption. For operations planning a private 5G future, i.safe Mobile’s IS440.M1 offers a migration path within the same product family.
Certified where it matters
ATEX and IECEx Zone 1 and Zone 21 certification covers the baseline requirement for hazardous area deployment, and the IS380.1 holds both, alongside IP68 and MIL-STD 810H ratings for dust, immersion, impact and temperature extremes. Building on that foundation, the IS380.M1 is the dedicated mining variant, developed specifically for underground and surface mining applications, including coal environments, where certification requirements go furthest.
Familiar ergonomics: Built like a radio
A side-mounted PTT button sits where a radio user’s thumb naturally rests, while a programmable rotary switch handles channel and volume without screen interaction for ergonomic ease.
An amplified loudspeaker cuts through high-ambient noise; A 13-pin ISM interface supports approved audio equipment. To the workforce, the device feels familiar. To management, it does considerably more.
A controlled software environment
The IS380.1 ships with the i.safe Mobile App World pre-installed: a curated, hardware-validated application environment hosted on German servers, covering PTT, lone worker protection, MDM, and maintenance tools. For IT teams managing safety-critical fleets, that means validated apps, predictable updates, and no unmanaged consumer software introducing risk.
For more information visit: www.isafe-mobile.com
