The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rapid increase in deployment of industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technology, with 82% of mining companies looking to upgrade at least one area of their business, according to mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat.

The company's ‘Industrial IoT in the Time of Covid-19' study shows that 37% of the 82% reported that they had adopted an IoT project since the second quarter of 2020 and that the 18% who said they had not done plan to do so in the next two years.

Additionally, 81% of mining companies said they intended to accelerate the adoption of IoT as a direct consequence of pandemic-induced challenges.

Nicholas Prevost, director of Mining Innovation, Inmarsat, said the response shows how the mining industry has made considerable progress in the area of IoT adoption and development.

He explained that the pandemic "served to accelerate the rate of IoT adoption in many mining businesses" and companies adopting the technology are already seeing operational advantages, such as more automation and improved insight.

Mike Carter, president, Inmarsat Enterprise, observed that the "rapid increase" in IoT deployments emphasises how much progress the industry has made and its determination to overcome global challenges.

However, he warned that connectivity, data management, skills shortages, security and investment levels remain big challenges for the industry as global supply chains become increasingly digitalised and intertwined.