Newmont Pushes Mining Innovation Forward with Private 5G at Cadia

Posted by on

In early 2023, Newcrest announced plans to trial a private 4G LTE and 5G network at its underground Cadia operations in New South Wales, Australia. This followed earlier efforts with Telstra Purple and Ericsson to enhance connectivity, performance and safety at its Lihir mine in Papua New Guinea and, more recently, in surface operations at Cadia Valley Operations (CVO). Later that same year, Newcrest was acquired by Newmont Corporation, creating a global leader in gold production with a strong position in copper.

Building on those earlier deployments, Newmont revealed in 2024 that it would expand its use of 5G wireless networks to support underground mining safety and automation. The announcement came after positive results from the Cadia trial, which had addressed long-standing limitations with Wi-Fi-based systems.

Previously, Cadia’s underground operations depended on Wi-Fi networks that delivered upload speeds in the range of 20 to 30 megabits per second (Mbps). These speeds were insufficient for supporting remote-controlled and autonomous mining equipment, especially where multiple machines needed to operate in the same area simultaneously. High video data traffic and limited network capacity frequently triggered false safety stops and caused instability due to packet loss.

By introducing a private 5G solution, Newmont was able to demonstrate significantly improved performance. Upload speeds reached approximately 90 Mbps in underground access drives and declines, while extraction drives saw uploads of 150 Mbps and downloads of up to 500 Mbps. The network maintained consistent and stable connections throughout the underground complex, enabling reliable support for critical autonomous and remote-control systems.

Encouraged by these outcomes, Newmont confirmed it would incorporate 5G into future mining operations to support a broader range of autonomous equipment including drill rigs, graders and automated haul trucks. The technology is also set to underpin advanced safety systems, such as radar and collision avoidance, that aim to improve both productivity and worker protection.

Further progress was marked by the launch of a 5G teleremote dozer (short for bulldozer) fleet at Cadia, the first of its kind globally. This development addresses prior challenges faced when using Wi-Fi to control dozers. Under the old system, no more than two machines could be reliably connected within a 100 metre range, and network instability often resulted in significant operational delays.

With the private 5G setup, Newmont can now support a fleet of up to twelve dozers operating across a 2.5 kilometre-wide tailings construction zone, all connected through a single radio node. Uplink throughput has reached 175 Mbps, enabling uninterrupted remote operation and significantly increasing daily productivity.

The deployment uses Ericsson's advanced radio technologies, including antenna-integrated radios with massive MIMO capability. These allow high uplink performance across extended distances and make efficient use of mid-band spectrum. A key feature is the uplink booster functionality within the radio silicon, which enhances signal strength and uplink performance by a substantial margin.

This deployment demonstrates how private 5G can meet the rigorous demands of industrial environments like mining, not only by improving operational efficiency but also by enabling digital transformation initiatives such as real-time video control and computer vision applications. The ability to deliver these capabilities within spectrum-constrained regions is particularly beneficial to industries operating in remote or regulated areas.

Newmont’s continued investment in private 5G reflects a broader trend towards adopting advanced connectivity solutions for mining automation, remote operation, and safety enhancement. As global demand for minerals increases, such innovations are likely to play a pivotal role in the future of sustainable and efficient resource extraction.

Related Posts: 

Comments

Post a Comment