Komatsu Australia reduces reliance on Telstra-locked SIMs in security push

Komatsu Australia has started reducing its reliance on single-carrier deals for mobile connectivity in some of its automated heavy equipment devices to boost their security and network coverage.

The mining and earth moving machinery maker is switching from using Telstra’s SIMs in its Smart Construction and Smart Quarry product line to Zscaler’s secure and network agnostic alternative, Zscaler Cellular.

Komatsu’s national operations manager for the product line Brent Parker told iTnews that around 1800 pieces of equipment in the field would be switched to the new SIMs.

It will then supply the SIMs as standard in new equipment in the series, including in its Intelligent Machine Control, Smart Construction 3DMG and Smart Quarry Site devices.

The new SIMs harden the devices' security.

But Parker said that the need to review cellular connectivity was also driven by concerns about whether Telstra's would remain a good fit for Komatsu's future plans to take offer more subscription technology services in the South Pacific market.

“My main aim when reviewing and changing our cellular provider was as a foundation project to the subscription management systems I want to implement at Komatsu Australia," he said.

“We are offering more technology solutions to our customers on their machines that rely on a software and data subscriptions, and right now that’s quite difficult to manage and support.

“The key benefit for our customers is the increased network coverage given that Zscaler is a [mobile virtual network operator] and the redundancy in the case of network outages – such as Telstra’s recent one.

“The key benefit to Komatsu is a [telecommunications] partner that we can extend into other countries with rather than having to find alternate regional suppliers and integrate them into our systems."

The move brings the devices into line with Komatsu's emerging network security posture which is based on Zscaler's zero trust access methodology, regulating their internet access through Zscaler’s cloud-based, Zero Trust Exchange (ZTE).

As Zscaler has relationships with multiple carriers, the SIMs will also allow the devices to roam to whichever network is offering the strongest available signal in a given area.

If the SIMs are adopted more widely across Komatsu’s device fleets, it puts the company on a path away from its traditional telco consumption model, purchasing connectivity through Zscaler as an MVNO rather than via direct relationships with carriers.

Parker said no autonomous mining equipment will have the Zscaler cellular SIMs installed “for now”, with the deployment limited to devices over which he has remit to support.

Telstra has traditionally dominated IoT deployments in sectors like mining and agriculture due to its reputation for offering reliable coverage in remote areas.

However, having recently removed a million square kilometres from its cellular coverage maps after the Australian Communications and Media Authority introduced stricter labelling rules based on signal strengths, that reputation is facing a test.

While far from a complete victory for Telstra’s rivals, if more companies operating in remote areas follow Komatsu’s lead, it could open up possibilities for them to take a larger share of the remote cellular market.