Kirstin Sym-Smith, Head of Business Development, Ericsson Enterprise 5G – Mining, explores how private 5G networks can be the answer to the challenges of realising ‘smart mines’.

Mining has been vital to the world economy and continues to be. But the industry needs enhanced efficiency, safety standards, and productivity to tackle its evolving demands. With one in five mining decision makers in the UK worried that their workforce lacks the training or credentials to run increasingly sophisticated machinery and digital systems, it is clear a severe skills shortage poses a threat to reaching production goals. To maintain its domestic industry, the UK also requires more than 60 new mining engineering graduates per year, according to the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining. However, since 2019, there have not been any fresh undergraduates.

Understanding the idea of ‘smart mines’, which combine automation, analytics, and cutting-edge technology to increase productivity, is the key to overcoming these challenges. Furthermore, although large-scale operations like those in Australia need to be redesigned, smaller or more traditional extractive sectors like mid-sized European mines or masonry quarries in the UK also urgently need to undergo digital transformation. All these locations continue to struggle with labour shortages, stricter safety standards, and mounting demands to perform more sustainably and effectively.

Private mobile networks based on 5G enable the flexible, reliable, and low-latency transmission of large amounts of data. For mining companies, this offers the opportunity to integrate equipment such as autonomous vehicles, drilling systems, sensors, and control units into a wireless network, many of which were previously fixed, difficult to connect, or not mobile. The dedicated network also allows for clearly defined priority settings for all machinery and systems on-site. This eliminates network conflicts and failures caused by overload.

In particular, data-intensive and real-time-critical applications such as AI-powered vision systems, autonomous haulage vehicles, or automated drilling rigs benefit from ultra-low latency and high data transmission rates, which can now be extended to non-hard-wired devices for the first time. With easier integration of devices into a private 5G network, mining operators can use their data more efficiently and selectively. A key benefit is predictive, intelligent maintenance: real-time monitoring and analytics help identify when equipment is likely to fail and schedule servicing proactively, reducing downtime and improving safety in remote or hazardous environments.

But what does the adoption of 5G in remote, legacy mines look like in practice?

Among the many crucial operational goals and challenges faced by large-scale mines is the removal of human workers from hazardous, isolated locations to increase safety while preserving efficiency. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi has is too unstable and the restricted bandwidth and latency means it cannot support the real-time, autonomous solutions needed to address this challenge. And since satellite requires a line of sight to function, it means it cannot function underground. This is keeping miners from taking advantage of the productivity gains made possible by the autonomous machinery that is revolutionising the sector, such as drilling rigs and haul trucks.

In these situations, private 5G networks can support on-site automation, improve environmental monitoring, and reduce the dependency on human supervision in hazardous zones by providing low latency, high bandwidth and reliable connectivity. Real-time data is critical to ensure that these operations stay online and keep workers safe, while helping mining operations maximise efficiencies.

Naturally, there are significant difficulties in putting 5G private networks into operation. Smaller or legacy operators will face challenges related to the lifespan and constraints of their current equipment. Ageing machinery including processing units, lorries, and conveyors that were not initially built with connectivity or automation in mind are frequently used by stone and masonry quarries in the UK, which supply vital materials for infrastructure and heritage restoration. Of course, one must also take into account the regulatory obstacles. For instance, implementing autonomous equipment can necessitate authorisation from health and safety authorities, modifications to site safety procedures, and new licenses.

Fortunately, mining companies can work with implementation partners to bridge these gaps. They can provide guidance and help foster partnerships with manufacturers, system integrators, and regulators alike, ensuring companies can evolve at a pace they are comfortable with.

To improve worker safety and operational efficiency throughout their worldwide operations, major global corporations like Newmont are already utilising private cellular networks. In their surface operations, Newmont’s Cadia gold-copper mine has made it possible to deploy private 5G technology for the first time for teleremote (remote control) dozing.

Previously, Newmont could not connect more than two machines at distances of no more than 100 m on Wi-Fi before the network became futile. Wi-Fi was unstable and could lead to downtime of up to six hours or more for troubleshooting to restore connectivity. With Private 5G, Newmont now maintains continuous production, allowing more work to be completed autonomously per shift, while simultaneously making production safer. It can connect its full dozer fleet across the width of its tailings works construction area – up to 2.5 km – from a single 5G radio while achieving up to 175 Mbps uplink throughput (enough for up to 12 dozers if required), with zero interruptions.

This quest for better connectivity is not only unlocking significant productivity, safety, and efficiency gains, but will also improve Newmont's competitive standing in the long term.

The world’s mining industry is at a turning point. For both large-scale enterprises and smaller, more conventional sites to stay resilient and competitive, digital transformation is essential to address the ongoing skills shortages, stricter regulations, and the urgent need for efficiency. In the end, more sophisticated, better-connected mining operations will create the leveller that can add accuracy to the task and enable legacy mining to accomplish more with less.