sometimes the mines have a "common room" where you can use internet, not sure about web cams but i guess depends on the company. If his job is with a massive company like bph or rio tinto, maybe they have those facilities (or at lesat one to share in the common room). in my DH's mine, he can't use internet from his donger (room), as there's no connection. But as his work is office-based, he's contactable on email, but there's a block on MSN. Sometimes the dongers allow calls in, but you can't call out from them. But there would be a mobile signal tho, so there's always that.