CASE STUDY
Smart mining requires a fresh approach to networking
Surface mining operations can extend over vast areas and require large-scale wireless coverage.
Smart mining introduces more applications, endpoints and traffic to the network, considerably increasing performance, scalability and capacity requirements. Many smart-mining applications are bandwidthintensive and delay-sensitive, requiring highthroughput, low-latency networking and dependable and deterministic connectivity.
Open pit mines and underground mines each pose a unique set of network engineering challenges.
And below the ground, narrow and twisting drives and uneven surfaces can limit signal propagation, making Wi-Fi deployments problematic. Mines also subject network equipment to extreme temperatures, vibration and moisture. Installing and maintaining equipment can be hazardous.
Mines are also in remote, hard-to-reach locations, creating equipment repair and replacement challenges.
Moving beyond Wi-Fi
Newmont found conventional Wi-Fi networks no longer met the increased performance, safety and economic requirements of the modern mine.
To address this, Newmont adopted a private cellular network architecture, partnering with Ericsson to turn its smart-mining vision into reality.
The private wireless network provides a scalable, whole-of-mine solution that supports Newmont’ s immediate needs while enabling its long-term digital transformation vision.
The network also helps the company accelerate time-to-value, ensuring Newmont maximizes the full potential of its investments.
“ Smart mining significantly increases bandwidth and performance demands and requires an entirely new approach to networking,” said Chris Twaddle, Newmont’ s Director of Process Control, Networks and Operational Cellular.
“ The Ericsson private cellular network has been a real game changer. It allows us to roll out more autonomous machines and helps us improve worker safety and increase production efficiencies above and below the surface.”
Ultimately, Newmont’ s long-term vision is to deploy Ericsson private 5G cellular networks across all of its Tier One mines worldwide.
Improving worker safety at Lihir Island
Lihir, one of the world’ s largest gold mines, is situated on a remote, geothermally active island off the coast of Papua New Guinea.
The active open pit mine is a harsh environment, with extreme temperatures and dangerous gases and vapors.
62 INTELLIGENTCIO APAC www. intelligentcio. com