MTN, Huawei partner to deploy 5G tech in SA’s mining industry
MTN has collaborated with Huawei in the deployment of 5G technology in the mining sector in South Africa, with potential implications for safety, efficiency, and overall productivity.
The mining industry in South Africa has historically faced challenges, including high rates of fatalities and injuries. The adoption of 5G technology is expected to address these issues. Phalanndwa Colliery, operated by Canyon Coal, is among seven mines that has implemented 5G video surveillance and a 5G + IoT proximity detection system.
5G technology
Video surveillance using 5G enables high-definition footage upload and download, facilitating better security through image comparison and reverse image search capabilities. The 5G + IoT proximity detection system helps prevent collisions by sounding alarms when people or vehicles are near enabled vehicles.
A 5G smart conference network has been deployed to enhance the working environment. Plans for integrating 5G and artificial intelligence to improve ore sorting efficiency are in progress, with potential benefits such as increased ore production, more drill rig operations, and energy savings.
Huawei has implemented robust security measures to protect the 5G system from cyber-attacks. The solution is independent and self-contained on a private network, ensuring that any issues with the consumer core network do not affect the private 5G network. The private 5G core features network isolation, data protection, and user authentication for safeguarding critical assets.
Huawei and MTN have partnered with various development partners, including video surveillance vendors and companies specializing in drone, AR, and AI safety surveillance. Huawei has developed a 5GtoB online store to facilitate the wide commercial use of MTN’s 5G capabilities, allowing application developers and system integrators to access the network.
