NETWORKS & COMMS
Bell private network installed with MacLean in Sudbury
Telecomms major Bell and MacLean, the world’ s largest Canadian-based manufacturer of underground mining equipment, recently announced a technology collaboration to better support the evolving needs of mining customers. The innovations being introduced will improve equipment interoperability – the way in which machines exchange and make use of information – enhancing safety for workers and driving sustainable practices and reduced vehicle emissions.
The installation of a Bell Private Mobile Network( PMN) at the MacLean Research & Training Facility in Sudbury, Ontario, provides a communications infrastructure perfectly suited for mining vehicle innovation. Bell’ s PMN will transform the test facility into a Centre of Excellence, leveraging Bell’ s secure 5G / LTE network that delivers persistent, dedicated bandwidth and signal stability from the surface shop to the underground environment.
This Centre of Excellence serves as the foundation for MacLean’ s mobile equipment research and development. It enables the company’ s mining vehicles to be more dependably controlled remotely, with real-time monitoring data to support rapid decision-making. Remote operations allow machines to work together better, maximising the potential for the deployment of semi or fully autonomous mining, where underground excavations can be done safely by operators above ground. Remote operators can also monitor vehicles from a distance without lag, powered by Bell’ s lowlatency PMN.
The collaboration between Bell and MacLean exemplifies a commitment to sustainable mining practices as Bell has also installed PMN coverage at MacLean’ s Electric Vehicle refurbishment plant located in the same facility. Replicating the operating environment in the manufacturing facility optimises quality assurance and manufacturing efficiencies. Accelerating the transformation of mining companies’ digital services enables the deployment of electric vehicles underground using sophisticated battery technologies that leverage real-time monitoring, with reductions in fuel use and CO2 emissions.
David Jacques, VP Engineering, MacLean:“ What we’ re doing here at our research and training facility is quite literally building the mine of the future, now, leveraging Bell’ s leading-edge mobile network technology, so that we can accelerate the industry transition to mining in a way that maximises the benefits from emerging automation and digitalisation technologies. This new private mobile network technology will help us pursue our core work of driving safety and productivity improvements in mining, here in Canada and around the globe. I’ m delighted with the results of this collaboration and know that it will open new possibilities for our Advanced Vehicles and Technology team at our test facility to pursue their important innovation work.”
Costa Pantazopoulos, VP Product, Bell:“ Bell’ s private mobile network will allow MacLean to drive the modernisation of mining operations in Canada supporting the interoperability of equipment, safer environments for all workers, and fostering a more sustainable future through the enablement of battery electric mining vehicles. Our collaboration will support the opportunity for innovative Canadian Internet of Things solutions providers to test and modify their solutions to perform at the exacting standards required in rugged, realworld mining conditions in MacLean’ s Centre of Excellence.”
Ambra on networks – no point of failure
In challenging industrial environments, connectivity is much more than just an asset: it is essential. However, leading mining private network systems integrator Ambra Solutions argues that when you depend on public, you are exposed to all its risks: breakdown, interference, network saturation … which can mean production interruptions, costly delays and, of course, increased risks in terms of worker safety.
“ This is where Ambra stands out with its ultra-resilient private LTE / 5G network architecture, designed to ensure rock-solid connectivity with no single point of failure. It’ s no surprise that every major mining company is now looking into LTE( 4G) and 5G technology.”
Industrial environments and mines are often difficult to access and are subject to extreme environmental conditions. Their communication networks must handle huge amounts of data in real-time, which requires new solutions that guarantee uninterrupted connectivity.“ WiFi was never designed for this, and today it is struggling to keep up. We now see several WiFi vendors offering 5G components for mission critical applications. This is where LTE / 5G networks come in. The ability for LTE / 5G networks to provide Quality-of-Service while ensuring seamless handover across several radios is a must for several use cases. Moreover, LTE / 5G allows industrial customers to securely separate IT and OT traffic to meet new cybersecurity standards. Finally, large industrial complex can be covered with fewer LTE / 5G radios compared to WiFI reducing the cost of deployment and maintenance.”
Ambra says this is the most cost-effective and reliable solution for providing real-time coverage over several kilometres.“ For example, a single LTE radio can cover up to 6 km of underground tunnel in a mine, whereas it would take more than 60 active Wi-Fi access points to cover the same area,” explains Eric L’ Heureux, Founder and CEO of Ambra Solutions.
Unlike Wi-Fi, LTE is based on a radio interface planned and supervised by the network, which allows for better spectral efficiency and handover.
Eric L’ Heureux explains:“ LTE / 5G technology offers one of the best receive sensitivity. This means that even with a weak signal, we can obtain a high speed and a stable latency.”
A point of failure in a network means that if there is a problem with a key device( server, router, antenna), the whole system can be affected.“ Our private network architecture is designed differently. Thanks to intelligent redundancy and optimised resource distribution, no single defective component can cause a general breakdown. Robust and adaptive, the LTE / 5G infrastructure is resistant to dust, electromagnetic interference, vibration and difficult weather conditions, guaranteeing optimal operation 24 / 7.”
Even in the event of a power outage in the region, Ambra says its networks remain operational thanks to a battery power system, providing autonomy for 12 to 24 hours, offering often enough time to fix the issue. The result is a network that is always available, even in the most extreme conditions.
Heavy machinery operators, autonomous vehicles and field teams need a stable and smooth connection, without dead zones or excessive latency.“ With Ambra’ s private LTE / 5G connectivity, mobility no longer means communication difficulties. Data flows smoothly throughout the site, enabling rapid decision-making and optimal use of resources.”
Ambra says it guarantees maximum reliability as follows:
• Distributed architecture: Unlike traditional infrastructures, where a single control point can be vulnerable, Ambra’ s private LTE / 5G networks are designed to operate in a decentralised manner. This means that if one element fails, the rest of the network automatically takes over without interruption.
• Redundancy and seamless switching in case of failure: Thanks to automatic recovery mechanisms, the Ambra network immediately detects any anomalies and switches to alternative connections in a matter of milliseconds, thus ensuring total continuity of service.
• Absolute security and control: Because the network is private, companies have total control over their infrastructure, without depending on third-party operators. Updates, monitoring and maintenance are managed proactively, guaranteeing optimal performance at all times.
International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2025 35