Nokia today announced that Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology will deploy a Nokia 5G SA industrial-grade private wireless network at its test mine in Tampere, Finland. Based on Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), the 5G standalone (SA) network will be used to enhance communications and connectivity at the facility, a real-life mining environment where Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology tests, develops and prototypes mining solutions for its customers worldwide.

The network will enable fast, reliable and secure voice and video communications in a mining setting, which presents highly challenging deployment conditions. Its 5G capability will also be used for automated mining processes, enabling remote machine operations over 4K video links between deep underground and the surface control centre.

Patrick Murphy, President, Rock Drills and Technologies, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology said: “By deploying a Nokia 5G SA private wireless network with Nokia Digital Automation Cloud, we can trial and showcase an entirely new range of game-changing products and capabilities here in our Tampere test mine. As we work with our customers to help them leverage technology to digitalise their operations, the introduction of 5G opens the door to new opportunities in robotics, remote and autonomous operations, full-fleet automation, analytics and enhanced safety. As such, it comprises a breakthrough in the digital transformation of mining.”

Stephan Litjens, General Manager, Nokia Digital Automation Cloud said: “It’s an honor to work with a world-class company such as Sandvik on leading-edge digital automation solutions for the mining industry. With 5G SA, its high speed, low latency performance, and edge computing the next steps on this journey can be taken.

“Through our plug-and-play Nokia DAC platform we’re supporting Sandvik to realise not only its own digital transformation goals, but also those of the wider industry as it continues to deliver value to mining customers worldwide.”

Scalable according to needs, Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) is an industrial-grade digital automation service platform that provides a reliable, secure, and high-performance private wireless network. A compact, plug-and-play system, it comprises network equipment and a cloud-based operation monitoring system. With Nokia DAC, users can securely collect, process and host all generated proprietary data on site.

Established in 1972, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology test mine provides the opportunity to test and demonstrate Sandvik equipment and solutions in a realistic environment that comprises several kilometres of underground tunnels. It offers in-house training, provides a forum for knowledge and technology development, supports customers with product testing and performs failure analysis.

With the introduction of 5G SA, Nokia says it gives its customers the most comprehensive end-to-end portfolio of high-performance 4.9G/LTE and 5G private wireless networking solutions in the marketplace.

Raghav Sahgal, President of Nokia Enterprise said: “With the introduction of 5G SA, we setanew standard for our enterprise customers with a world-class line-up of private wireless solutions to meet their digitalisation needs, no matter their entry point or connectivity requirements.

“Private wireless connectivity is central to our customers realising their long-term digital transformation goals. By delivering 5G SA, we’re paving the way to accelerate digitalisation in the most demanding of use cases such as automotive manufacturing, where cloud, robotics and autonomous machine operations create mission-critical demands for reliable low latency and high data rate.”

Throughout development of its 5G SA private wireless solutions, Nokia has delivered in situ trials with customers and mobile operator partners since the first quarter of 2020. Nokia has more than 180 private wireless enterprise customers worldwide of which more than 30 engagements are 5G. Nokia has recently announced 5G private wireless deployments that include Deutsche Bahn, Lufthansa Technikand Toyota Production Engineering.