Case Study: Fulton Hogan – Bay of Plenty

Maintaining Long-Range Communications at a Quarry Site Using PoC Radio Technology

Date : 19/01/2026

Interviewer Mobile Systems : Nathan Rasmussen account manager

Interviewee : Ivan Cossey

About Fulton Hogan – Bay of Plenty

Fulton Hogan is a leading civil construction and infrastructure company, operating across New Zealand and Australia. The organisation delivers major transport, roading, civil, water and infrastructure projects that support communities and economies throughout the region.

Teams work across challenging terrain and high-risk environments, where reliable communication is essential to maintaining safety, coordination, and efficient day-to-day operations.

The Challenge

Fulton Hogan’s Bay of Plenty quarry site relied on a traditional radio repeater to provide long-range communications across the operation. The repeater was held under 3^rd party ownership and was scheduled for decommissioning.

A replacement repeater solution was assessed; however, the surrounding terrain and site layout meant the new repeater did not achieve the required coverage. (site location of previous repeater was not available)

With long-range, dependable communication remaining critical for both safety and operational efficiency, Fulton Hogan required an alternative solution that could deliver consistent site-wide coverage without reliance on traditional repeater infrastructure.

The Solution

Mobile Systems Limited implemented an LTE-based Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) radio solution for Fulton Hogan’s Bay of Plenty quarry operations, utilising the Motorola TLK series radios.

This solution removed the dependency on local repeater infrastructure and instead leveraged modern 4G/5G cellular networks to provide reliable communication coverage across the quarry and beyond.

The PoC platform combines the simplicity of traditional two-way radio operation with the reach and flexibility of cellular technology, enabling teams to stay connected regardless of terrain or site layout.

 Key capabilities delivered included:

• Wide-area LTE coverage, eliminating reliance on repeater systems
• Over-the-air programming (OTAP) for remote radio management and updates
• Wi-Fi fallback connectivity for site offices and depot environments
• Rugged PoC radios designed to perform in demanding quarry conditions

The Motorola TLK solution provided Fulton Hogan with a scalable, future-ready communications platform capable of supporting long-range team communications without geographic limitations.

The Results

Following the deployment of the PoC radio solution, Fulton Hogan’s Bay of Plenty quarry operations achieved a reliable and effective communication outcome that met both safety and operational requirements.

Interview Questions

Transition to PoC

How did your team adapt to using LTE-based push-to-talk radios?

Simple cross over – staff picked up the new technology quickly with a bit of training and use, the PoC radios are similar to traditional stuff.

Coverage and Clarity

What improvements have you noticed in coverage and call clarity across the quarry?

Coverage is excellent, I can be in another city and still have coms with the staff in BOP, clarity is fantastic, very clear.

Operational Impact

How has improved communication affected day-to-day coordination and safety on site?

The improved communication has made a real difference to how we coordinate day to day. The caller ID feature is especially useful, as we can immediately see who is speaking when a call comes through, which cuts down confusion. We use the one-to-one private calling feature a lot as well, particularly when we need to pass on specific information without tying up the main channel. Being able to see who is online has also been really helpful — if someone’s name isn’t showing in the morning, we can quickly follow it up by phone to check whether their radio is on or if there’s an issue. Overall, the improvement in call clarity means messages are much easier to understand, which helps keep things running smoothly and safely on site.

Over-the-Air Updates

How much time is saved now that radios can be managed and updated remotely?

Being able to manage the radios remotely has saved us a lot of time. We no longer need to take radios into the shop for servicing or programming or take a truck off the road just to make changes. Now it’s as simple as a quick phone call or text to Nathan, and updates can be pushed out to all the radios over the air. So far, we haven’t had any failures, which has made the whole process easy and reliable.

Key Features

Which PoC features have delivered the most value compared to traditional repeater-based radios?

We’ve noticed much better clarity — in many cases it’s even clearer than a phone call. The mobility side of it has been great as well; the radios are small and lightweight, so the guys are happy carrying them and don’t complain about wearing them. The range and coverage have been excellent and being able to see who’s online at any time is useful. Over-the-air updates have also been a big plus, as everything can be managed quickly without disrupting the team. The emergency feature is good.

Performance in Harsh Environments

How have the radios performed in dusty, noisy, and rugged quarry conditions?

We haven’t had any issues.

If you could list one most valuable / liked feature, what would it be

Hahaha, can I have two? Clarity and range

Looking Ahead

Do you see PoC radios becoming a communication tool across other Fulton Hogan sites?

Yes

Recommendation

Would you recommend LTE PoC radio solutions to other quarry or civil operations?

Yes, definitely

Conclusion

By partnering with Mobile Systems Limited, Fulton Hogan’s Bay of Plenty business successfully implemented a modern communication solution that overcame the limitations of traditional repeater infrastructure.

The LTE PoC radio platform delivers reliable long-range communications, simplifies radio management through over-the-air updates, and supports safe, efficient quarry operations, ensuring teams remain connected regardless of site geography or operational complexity.