Ericsson's networks and Epiroc's tech drive smart mining's future of safety and efficiency.

As mining companies seek to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability, connectivity is proving to be the cornerstone that these advancements hinge upon. Through their ongoing partnership, Ericsson and Epiroc are pushing the boundaries of automation and monitoring in the mining industry by leveraging private 4G and 5G networks, transforming mining operations into more connected and safer environments.

Picture a mining operation where intelligent rock bolts detect earth shifts and alert workers before disaster strikes or autonomous drill rigs work in perfect harmony while smart systems warn miners of approaching hazards, preventing collisions.

This futuristic vision is becoming a reality by integrating advanced cellular networks and cutting-edge mining technologies. By leveraging these innovations, mining operations are being transformed into safer, more efficient environments.

Mining companies around the world are striving to boost productivity, cut costs, and enhance safety while also facing increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact. The key to achieving these goals? Automation and digitalization, driven by robust and reliable cellular networks.

The potential of these technologies has often been limited by outdated communication infrastructure. However, with the integration of advanced private networks and mining technologies, this barrier is being overcome, paving the way for more effective operations.

Since 2016, Epiroc and Ericsson have collaborated to streamline the implementation of private cellular technologies for wireless data transmission, digitalization, and automation in mines. By standardizing connectivity and automation across sites, they are helping make mining operations safer, smarter, and more efficient.

By leveraging each other's strengths, this partnership has laid the groundwork for the future of connected mining, where reliable, secure, and high-speed communication is more than just a key to unlocking greater efficiency and safety; it is rather the pin that holds the wheels in place.

The difference

Mining operations are complex, involving vast networks of underground tunnels or expansive open-pit surfaces. Given the challenges of these environments, modern mines with increasingly sophisticated digital technologies require highly reliable connectivity to ensure safety and operational success. These systems need to:

• Remain continuously available.

• Provide high bandwidth with low latency for automated and semi-automated machinery.

• Deliver robust multi-layer security to protect both personnel and assets in demanding conditions.

Private cellular networks, particularly 4G LTE and 5G, offer many advantages in mining environments over traditional methods like Wi-Fi. These networks provide better coverage and capacity, ensuring reliable connectivity even in vast underground tunnels or open-pit operations.

Private LTE and 5G networks offer the high bandwidth and low latency required for the real-time control of autonomous drilling rigs and enable the instantaneous transmission of high-definition video for remote monitoring in mining operations.

This connectivity is essential for the automation and safety systems now becoming standard in modern mines, as it allows for more precise operations and quicker responses to potential hazards.

While Wi-Fi offers localized, cost-effective coverage in specific areas of a mine, it lacks the reach and reliability needed for complex mining environments.

In contrast, private LTE and 5G networks offer robust, reliable connectivity across extensive underground tunnels and large open-pit areas. These private networks reduce deployment costs and operational risks, requiring fewer access points than Wi-Fi and minimizing the chance of network outages that could jeopardize worker safety.

Nevertheless, mines often integrate both Wi-Fi and private networks to balance immediate needs with long-term connectivity strategies.

Ultimately, mines are long-term investments, often evolving over decades. As operations shift and expand, so must the communication infrastructure that supports them. Private cellular networks provide the adaptability needed for ongoing transformation, offering scalable solutions as new areas are developed, ensuring mines can continuously evolve their communication systems to meet advancing technological and operational demands.

Epiroc

Epiroc's autonomous equipment, supported by advanced digital visualization technologies and private cellular networks, is revolutionizing mining operations by improving safety, efficiency, and realtime decisionmaking for underground and surface mining environments.

Paving the way

In their pursuit of future-proofing mining operations, Epiroc and Ericsson have developed cutting-edge technologies designed for both underground and surface mining.

Epiroc's advanced solutions, such as drill rigs and load-haul-dump vehicles, are now enhanced with real-time visualization capabilities, allowing workers to see the movement of vehicles and personnel on a global digital map.

Supported by Ericsson's private cellular networks, these innovations significantly boost safety and operational efficiency in mining environments.

The Ericsson-Epiroc partnership also demonstrates how cellular networks can enhance the deployment and effectiveness of cutting-edge mining technologies:

• Autonomous operations – cellular networks improve synchronization and communication for autonomous vehicles, such as Epiroc's Pit Viper drill rigs, enabling more efficient open-pit mining.

• Advanced monitoring and safety – sensors provide real-time data on air quality and rock stability, ensuring a safer mining environment.

• Efficient resource management – enhanced connectivity optimizes energy consumption, particularly through the precise control of smart ventilation systems, promoting a safer and more efficient working environment.

One of the most ambitious examples of this partnership was the NEXGEN SIMS project, a European Union-funded initiative led by Epiroc and supported by Ericsson's private 5G technology (EP5G)-this three-year effort aimed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance safety by advancing automation in mining.

At the project's test facility in Sweden, Ericsson's EP5G network provided the critical infrastructure that allowed autonomous mine machinery to operate seamlessly alongside conventional equipment and human workers.

By meeting stringent real-time safety communication standards, this solution showcased the remarkable potential of cellular networks in mining, offering not only reliable high-speed connectivity but also the precision and low latency required to ensure safety in dynamic and challenging mining environments.

The future picture

While Ericsson and Epiroc lead the way in revolutionizing cellular connectivity in mining, their efforts are part of a larger ecosystem driving sector-wide innovation. Ericsson's collaboration with telecommunications providers and technology firms has facilitated cellular solutions in mines worldwide, particularly in Canada and Australia.

These implementations have already shown significant productivity gains, underscoring the value of cellular networks in mining. As more companies adopt these technologies, expect rapid dissemination of innovations and best practices throughout the industry.

Looking to the future, the role of advanced technologies in mining is set to expand. However, the success of these innovations hinges on a robust, reliable, and flexible communication infrastructure.

As exemplified by the Ericsson-Epiroc collaboration and projects like NEXGEN SIMS, private cellular networks offer this critical foundation. They provide seamless connectivity, high-bandwidth data transmission, and ultra-low latency communication, supporting both current mining technologies and paving the way for future advancements.

For mining executives and engineers focused on future-proofing their operations, mastering private cellular networks is crucial, as those who effectively harness these technologies will be best positioned to excel in efficiency and safety as the industry evolves.