Following a successful trial run, world's largest gold mining company sees 5G as the future of connectivity at modern mines.

Newmont Corp. is set to revolutionize underground mining safety and efficiency following successful 5G trials at its Cadia copper-gold mine in New South Wales, Australia, where next-generation wireless technology delivered unprecedented improvements in network reliability and speed, paving the way for broader deployment across its global operations.

As one of the world's leading gold and copper producers, Newmont operates Cadia, one of the largest underground mines in New South Wales, Australia.

Before the introduction of 5G technology, operations at Cadia were hampered by the limitations of existing wi-fi networks, which provided upload speeds of just 20-30 megabits per second (Mbps) for operating autonomous equipment like ore loaders and remote-controlled mining machines.

While such speeds might suffice in less demanding industries, the wi-fi connections at Cadia were not only slow but also unreliable, struggling under heavy load conditions and causing frequent disruptions in operations.

The network's insufficient capacity often led to false safety stops triggered by network packet loss – failure of data being transmitted – a critical issue in an environment where reliability is paramount.

The shift to Ericsson's private 5G network, which Newmont began trialing in February of last year, changed everything.

Newmont reported a dramatic improvement in upload speeds, with connections reaching 90Mbps in the horizontal access tunnels and sloped declines and up to 150Mbps upload, and 500Mbps download in the extraction areas where ore is removed.

This boost solved the long-standing issues caused by unreliable wi-fi and ensured the stable performance needed for the remote control and autonomous systems that are essential to modern mining operations.

"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," said Suzy Retallack, Newmont's chief safety and sustainability officer. "These trials are part of the new frontier of technology in mining – using innovation to make our people safer and our mines more productive."

With the trial's success, Newmont is now planning to deploy more autonomous fleets, including drill rigs, graders, and auto haul trucks, as part of its future mining operations. The company will leverage 5G's unique capabilities to streamline operations and enhance safety systems by integrating radars and collision avoidance technologies.

"5G is enabling rapid global transformation of industry, supporting digitalisation and movement towards automated, more efficient, and safer operations across a number of sectors," said Manish Tiwari, head of private cellular networks at Ericsson. "Ericsson is proud to be partnering with Newmont in demonstrating the potential of 5G to the global mining sector."

The trial also extended to surface operations at Cadia, where Newmont tested 5G new radio (NR) technologies – including 64T64R massive MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output), beamforming, and beam-steering – which are simply technologies that improve signal strength, coverage, and data transmission efficiency.

These innovations delivered significant improvements in throughput over the extended distances found in surface operations, reinforcing the value of 5G across different mining environments.

As a leader in mining innovation, Newmont is committed to using technology to enhance safety and efficiency across its operations. The success of the Cadia trial has solidified 5G's place in Newmont's communications strategies, not only at Cadia but also at its other tier-one underground and surface mines worldwide.

Following the trial, Newmont has applied for Area Wide Licenses from the Australian Communications and Media Authority to extend and embed 5G technology across its Australian operations.

Looking ahead, the company plans to expand the use of 5G networks across its global network of underground gold-copper mines, marking a new era of mining driven by cutting-edge connectivity.