BCX, one of the largest system integrators in Africa and a division of Telkom, ushered in a new 5G-enabled era for the Nungu mine, in collaboration with its industry-leading partners.
The South African mining industry took a crucial and momentous step this November. Unprecedented improvements in worker safety and business productivity have been introduced at the Nungu mine in Elandspruit, with pioneering 5G wireless technology instantly addressing a wide range of challenges facing the mining industry.
The deployment of the latest 5G-enabled technologies is set to radically improve mine operational efficiency and safety. “This is a game changer for the entire industry and the hundreds of thousands of people it employs,” says Neo Phukubje, Executive Manager of BCX Wireless Solutions.
The mine has been revolutionized with wireless connectivity, data analysis and automation that enables video monitoring via drone technology, integrated connectivity with handheld devices and tablets, and a facial recognition Proximity Detection System. Wireless technology in the form of 5G solves use cases within enterprises, where speed, reliability, and reduced latency are critical. Create possibilities to transform every area of the operation, from workplace safety to improving productivity through predictive intelligence. Each of the ecosystem partners, including Huawei, MPI Holdings, Umnotho Technologies, and Dahua, have played a critical role in this far-reaching venture.
According to MPI’s Gert Venter: “The importance placed on the partner ecosystem in the project helped to develop vital security innovations. This includes a 5G-enabled proximity alert between two HGVs for collision avoidance, which can mean the difference between life and death.”
Frenndy Wang, Director, Channel Department, Huawei South Africa Enterprise Division, says that in addition to improving security and operational efficiency, another differentiator is that 5G enables AI-based real-time data analysis, which is key to smart mining.
“Data is a valuable asset for miners, as it enables ‘data-driven decision-making’ in the critical mining environment. 5G connectivity will make the South African mining sector globally competitive. We are excited to work together with our partners like BCX to drive digital transformation in the mining sector, which is such a crucial industry in the economy.”
The project at the Nungu mine consists of two phases: surface and underground. In phase one, BCX deployed 5G-enabled cameras at critical points in the mine to enable:
- Proximity sensing, enabled by IOT sensors and digital processing technologies;
- A storage monitoring system, enabled by images collected via drones and processed through the edge digital computing systems;
- In-car connectivity to monitor driver fatigue and collision avoidance, to minimize the number of incidents and collisions; Y
- A pedestrian protection system, which allows for the safety and monitoring of miners on site.
These technologies are bringing smart mining to life in South Africa, enhancing its ability to monitor mines around the clock, improving employee safety and increasing productivity, while actively minimizing mine incidents.
Phase two will see the extension of underground connectivity to enable a fully connected smart mine that will increase safety and supply motion sensors that trigger an alarm and allow the mine control room to effectively monitor underground activity.
“As this launch demonstrated, wireless technology can be harnessed in powerful ways that make a lasting difference. It builds on our confidence and enthusiasm to work in partnership with all industries, from finance, aviation and agriculture to healthcare, so that they too can benefit from being 5G-enabled, fully integrated and connected to a new world. of infinite possibilities”, concludes Phukubje.
