In a world where the digital transformation of the mining sector is accelerating, connectivity has become a critical pillar to support automation, data collection, worker safety, and asset performance. Yet in the complex and demanding environments of mine sites, ensuring stable, fast, and reliable data transmission remains a major challenge.
It is in this context that the LATYS FOCUS project was launched by Montreal-based Latys Intelligence Inc. By combining intelligent antenna technology with a next-generation wireless communication platform, Latys is offering a solution capable of radically transforming connectivity in mining.
Founded in 2020 by Artmiz Golkaramnay, Latys Intelligence relies on a multidisciplinary team of engineers, researchers, and university students. Together, they share a clear mission: to build an ultra-reliable, high-performance, and sustainable wireless communication infrastructure.
Based in Montreal, Latys develops telecommunications technologies tailored to complex industrial environments. Its flagship product, LATYS FOCUS, is the result of several years of research and development and introduces a unique approach to connectivity: Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS).
LATYS FOCUS is a system that combines multiple innovations to significantly improve wireless network performance in challenging environments such as mines.
Key features include:
Specialization in industrial connectivity
Optimization of data transfer efficiency
Integrated signal sensor and multiplier
Zero latency and interference
Unlike conventional repeaters that simply relay a signal, LATYS FOCUS acts as an intelligent amplifier. It captures existing signals, amplifies them substantially, and retransmits them with enhanced precision—ensuring robust, stable, and low-latency network coverage. This approach is particularly suited to underground, metallic, or rugged environments where interference is frequent.
RIS technology makes it possible to dynamically reconfigure how signals propagate through space, adapting to physical obstacles, moving equipment, and changing usage patterns. This provides unmatched flexibility in network management.
The development of LATYS FOCUS for mining applications is structured into five major phases over seven months, beginning in April:
Design – Defining mining-specific requirements and technical modelling
Prototyping – Fabricating the first models adapted to industrial environments
Field Testing – Validating the technology on partner sites
Iteration – Improving the system based on real-world feedback
Commercialization Preparation – Finalizing business models and go-to-market strategies
This agile approach combines scientific rigour with on-the-ground adaptability, ensuring a solution that is both functional and relevant for mining operators.
The project has a total budget of $887,425, with funding split between public and private contributions:
59% public funding, including:
50% from Groupe MISA’s VORTEX program
9% from complementary federal support
41% private contributions, including:
Latys’ own investments
Financial and in-kind support from a mining partner
Contributions from several specialized subcontractors
This funding structure highlights the mobilization of both the technology and industrial ecosystems, as well as the strategic interest LATYS FOCUS is generating.
The mine of the future is built on a range of emerging technologies: Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, predictive maintenance, artificial intelligence, and digital twins. All of these innovations share a fundamental requirement: reliable connectivity.
Yet in mining environments—whether underground or open-pit—traditional networks are often inadequate: high costs of wired deployment, electromagnetic interference, obstructive metallic structures, and frequent site reconfigurations.
Connectivity therefore becomes an operational lever, on par with machinery or infrastructure. It enables:
Real-time equipment monitoring
Smooth communication between systems
Reduced downtime
Improved worker safety
According to a 2023 PwC report, more than 70% of global mining companies plan to increase their investments in digital technologies over the next three years. Key areas of focus include:
Integration of connected systems
Real-time visibility
Asset optimization
Downtime reduction
The global smart mining technology market is projected to exceed USD 25 billion by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 14%. Within this context, Latys’ solution directly addresses the rising demand for high-performance communication infrastructure.
Unlike existing solutions that primarily aim to extend Wi-Fi coverage, LATYS FOCUS takes a radically different approach. Instead of passively repeating a signal, the system acts as an intelligent multiplier:
Capturing the original signal
Actively amplifying it
Retransmitting it in an optimized manner
This method ensures broader coverage, fewer dead zones, and greater stability—even in highly noisy or interference-prone industrial environments. This is what makes LATYS FOCUS a disruptive technology for the mining sector.
The LATYS FOCUS project is fully aligned with Groupe MISA’s strategic objectives: supporting Quebec-based technological innovations that enable smarter, safer, and more sustainable mining.
This project represents:
The integration of advanced technology into a critical sector
Collaboration between a technology company and the mining industry
The development of practical solutions to real operational challenges
The promotion of Quebec’s expertise in telecommunications and R&D
With LATYS FOCUS, Latys Intelligence offers much more than just a communication device. The company is bringing to market a strategic technology designed to meet the specific needs of today’s and tomorrow’s mining sites.
By enabling more stable, faster, and smarter connectivity, this innovation strengthens the digital foundation on which the future autonomy of mining operations will rest. It represents a tangible asset for improving performance, safety, and competitiveness in both Quebec and international mining operations.
