Bell and MacLean, a Canada-based manufacturer of mining equipment, announced a technology collaboration aiming to improve semi- and fully-autonomous mining.
The collaboration saw Bell install a private mobile network (PMN) at MacLean’s Sudbury, Ontario, research and training facility. The PMN leverages Bell’s 5G and LTE networks to deliver persistent, dedicated bandwidth and signal stability to the underground environment.
According to a press release from the companies, the PMN will enable MacLean to control mining vehicles more reliably remotely with real-time monitoring to support decision-making. Further, remote operations allow machines to work together better, which maximizes potential for deploying semi- or fully-autonomous mining.
This would allow operators to remain above ground and control vehicles from a distance with minimal lag, thanks to the low latency of Bell’s PMN.
Bell also installed PMN coverage at MacLean’s electric vehicle refurbishment plant in the same Sudbury facility. The company says this will help accelerate the transformation of mining companies’ digital services and enable the deployment of electric vehicles underground, reducing fuel use and emissions.
