COMMUNICATIONS & NETWORKS
Despite this familiarity, many utilities continue
to rely on a combination of tablets, dedicated lone worker devices, standalone gas detectors and traditional, dated paper-based processes. This increases the number of devices and processes that workers must carry and manage, making consistent adoption of various devices harder instead of easier. However, smartphones, when deployed as part of a considered mobility strategy, offer an opportunity to consolidate rather than add to the device burden. So, communication, lone worker protection, job management and reporting can all be delivered through a single platform and single device, provided the right safety and governance controls are in place.
ATEX environments demand flexibility, not blanket approaches Hazardous environments add another layer of complexity and the utility sector has no shortage of these. ATEX-rated devices are essential in certain situations like this, but a one-size-fits-all approach to their deployment and usage is rarely effective. Additionally, ATEX tablets are often used here. And, while powerful, are expensive and often cumbersome for everyday tasks, typically costing between £2,300 and £3,200 per unit. In comparison, ATEX smartphones offer a sufficient screen size and functionality for most required field activities today at around half the cost, while supporting safer, more practical ways of working too. More importantly, not every worker requires the same equipment either. Some lone workers need ATEX smartphones alongside gas detection. Others require lone worker protection without
gas monitoring. Many operate in non-ATEX environments; but they still need safety oversight. Further, contractors and infrequent visitors typically require controlled, temporary access rather than permanent device allocation. Therefore, flexibility, rather than
standardisation, is what enables mobility strategies to scale across diverse estates. This is because there is no one-size-fits all approach towards delivering mobility effectively.
Safety systems only work if people actually use them Utilities rightly place strong emphasis on lone worker safety. However, standalone lone worker devices are often underused for a simple reason: people already carry too much equipment. A safety system that relies on an additional device is vulnerable to being forgotten, left in a vehicle or a locker.
Embedding lone worker protection into devices that workers already rely on changes behaviour though. Smartphones used for communication, collaboration and job management are far more likely to be carried consistently and remain active throughout a shift. So making use of these devices to support safety is key. The most effective mobility strategies are not those that deploy more technology, but those that simplify how technology is used. Consolidating communication, lone worker protection, alarm management and safety data into a single, coherent platform reduces reliance on memory, paperwork and manual handovers. It also delivers something increasingly important: clear accountability. Knowing who
is on site, who is responding to an incident and what action has been taken is essential in environments where risk is dynamic and response time matters. Utilities are entering a decade of
unprecedented delivery. Infrastructure investment is necessary, but it is not sufficient. The organisations that succeed will be those that design digital strategies around how work is actually done, not how it is assumed to be done.
Smartphones, deployed intelligently within a wider mobility and safety strategy, provide a pragmatic way to bridge that gap. When integrated with existing gas detection systems and lone worker platforms, they enable alarms, exposure data and incidents to be managed centrally while remaining accessible to those closest to the risk. At the same time, smartphones give frontline workers access to collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, as well as emerging AI-driven support that can help them interpret information, access guidance and make better decisions in the moment.
By consolidating communication, gas detection integration, lone worker protection and collaboration into a coherent mobile strategy, utilities can reduce device overload, improve compliance and respond more effectively in high-risk environments. Digital transformation does not fail because utilities lack vision. It fails when frontline reality is treated as an afterthought.
ANT Telecom
www.anttelecom.co.uk
APRIL 2026 | PROCESS & CONTROL ENGINEERING 35
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