Image: WesTrac/Newmont
Newmont will begin rolling out more autonomous haul trucks, drill rigs, and graders following a trial to boost the technology capabilities of its Cadia mine in New South Wales.
The gold miner will begin expanding next generation 5G wireless networks to improve safety in underground mining in partnership with Ericsson and Telstra Purple.
Before the trial, Cadia – one of the largest gold mines in the world – was limited to upload speeds of 20–30 megabits per second (Mbps) using Wi-Fi to operate autonomous equipment such as ore loaders and remote-controlled mining machines.
These wi-fi connections were unreliable and unpredictable when under load.
The new 5G network has allowed for speeds up to 90Mbps along access drives and declines throughout the underground complex, and 150Mbps upload and 500Mbps download on all-important extraction drives.
Newmont has since been able to deploy additional safety systems like radars and collision avoidance to improve overall mine safety systems.
“The trial results show the extraordinary potential of 5G to improve safety, increase the number of machines that can be operated on a single network and boost production efficiencies in underground mining,” Newmont chief safety and sustainability officer Suzy Retallack said.
“These trials are part of the new frontier of technology in mining – using innovation to make our people safer and our mines more productive.”
On the basis of the trial, 5G now has a firm place in Newmont’s communications strategies for Cadia and its other Tier 1 underground and surface mines across the world.
Newmont also garnered support from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for the trial, and has now applied to the ACMA for licences to extend and embed Newmont’s use of 5G technology across its Australian operations.
Newmont plans to expand the use of 5G networks across its global network of Tier 1 underground gold-copper mines.
“5G is enabling rapid global transformation of industry, supporting digitalisation and movement towards automated, more efficient, and safer operations across a number of sectors,” Ericsson head of private cellular networks Manish Tiwari said.
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