Our industry is built on experience. Each edition, we feature someone who knows their field inside and out, sharing the knowledge they’ve gained over many years. From practical advice to lessons learned the hard way, this is insight you won’t find in a manual. This month we hear from Ian Ross, Head of Private Networks Australia New Zealand at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions.
Mining is becoming more data driven, and that is changing the way mines operate on the surface and underground.
From fleet optimisation and autonomous equipment to digital twins and real-time monitoring, more decisions are now being shaped by live data, analytics and machine learning. But while plenty of attention goes to the equipment and software, none of it works properly at scale without the right connectivity underneath it.
That is where the conversation is shifting. Connectivity is no longer just a support service sitting quietly in the background. In modern mining, it is becoming critical infrastructure.
For years, many sites have relied on Wi-Fi and other legacy communications systems to keep operations connected. In some cases that has been enough for basic tasks or localised coverage. But as mines try to connect more assets, move more critical data and rely on real-time systems for safety and production, the cracks start to show.
A modern mine needs a network that can reach across the whole site, not just pockets of it. It needs to support more machines, more sensors and more demanding systems, all without becoming a maintenance headache of its own. It also needs to deliver the kind of reliability that production and safety-critical systems depend on.
That is why the move from Wi-Fi to cellular technologies such as 4G/LTE and private 5G is becoming more important.
One of the biggest misconceptions in mining is that the connectivity already in place is good enough. It often is not. The mine of the future will only have more things to connect, more critical information moving across site and more dependence on that information being available everywhere, all the time. Sites that do not modernise connectivity will find it harder to lift performance, adopt new systems and keep pace with the rest of the industry.
There is also a common misconception that automation removes people from the picture altogether. In reality, automation usually shifts people into different roles rather than replacing them. Monitoring, maintenance, control and decision-making all become more important. In many cases, the job is still getting done, just with less exposure to dust, instability, blast zones and other environmental risks.
That shift is where better digital infrastructure can make a real difference.
With stable, high-performance connectivity in place, sites can support tele-remote operations, real-time equipment monitoring, connected safety systems and underground sensing that would be difficult to run reliably on older networks. Technologies such as wireless rock bolts and other IoT sensors can detect tunnel movement, strain, seismic activity, gas and dust, then send that data back to the surface in real time.
That allows engineers and control room teams to build a live picture of mine conditions without having to physically go into the same environment. It means better visibility, faster decisions and, in some cases, less time waiting to safely return to work after blasting.
This is also part of a much bigger shift from reactive operations to predictive ones.
Modern mines generate a steady stream of information, from equipment health and air quality to structural movement and ore characteristics. But data is only useful if the operation can actually move it, trust it and act on it in time. Without strong connectivity, digital systems quickly lose value. Tracking drops out in dead zones. Monitoring becomes patchy. Equipment data arrives too late. Automation programs stall.
Tele-remote operations are a good example of where this becomes very real.
Running tele-remote equipment at scale means handling large volumes of data across wide areas with very high reliability. That is where older systems like Wi-Fi often start to struggle. As more devices and video streams are added, networks can become unstable and unpredictable. Operators lose confidence in the system, maintenance teams spend their time chasing faults, and the rollout of tele-remote capability gets held back.
Private 5G is changing that by offering broader coverage, lower latency, more predictable performance under load and stronger security. In practical terms, that means fewer dropouts, less troubleshooting and a far more reliable platform for remote and autonomous operations.
The benefits are already being seen on site. At Newmont’s Cadia operation, private 5G helped extend tele-remote dozer range, reduce downtime and improve productivity, while also allowing operators to work further from active equipment. That is an important point because better connectivity is not just about moving more material. It is also about moving people further from risk.
There is a people side to this as well.
Stable networks reduce the day-to-day frustration that comes from unexplained dropouts and constant troubleshooting. Maintenance teams spend less time fixing the same recurring problems. Operators spend less time wrestling with connection issues and more time doing the job properly. That may not be the flashiest part of digital transformation, but it matters.
Looking ahead, private 5G is likely to become an increasingly important part of mining’s next step, supporting automation, predictive maintenance, digital twins and more AI-driven decision-making. It will not be the only factor, but it will increasingly be the platform that makes those systems viable in real-world conditions.
The key lesson is that the technology itself is usually not the hardest part. The bigger challenge is how it is introduced into the operation. Sites need a clear vision, the right internal ownership, practical support from trusted partners and systems that local teams can actually run with confidence.
Connectivity planning also needs to look further ahead. Mines that only build for today’s demand risk having to spend again when future requirements catch up with them. The smarter approach is to understand where the operation is heading and put in place a platform that is ready for it.
Digital transformation is already reshaping mining. The sites that benefit most will be the ones that treat connectivity as more than an afterthought, because in a modern mine, it is becoming just as important as the systems it supports.
| Want to learn more? Visit Ericsson’s website for more on private networks and mining connectivity. |
| IN THE KNOW: FAST FACTS • Connectivity is becoming critical infrastructure in modern mining • Private 5G can support safer remote and autonomous operations • Better networks help move mines from reactive to predictive decision-making • Automation changes roles, but skilled people still remain essential • Real-time sensor data can improve visibility, safety and post-blast decisions • Tele-remote operations need reliability at scale, not just patchy coverage • Stable connectivity can reduce frustration and free up maintenance teams • Mines should plan connectivity around future needs, not just current ones |
