NETWORKS & COMMS
edge private 4G / 5G network built using Nokia Modular Private Wireless( MPW).
IAMGOLD sought a connectivity solution with minimal infrastructure requirements that could support current automation needs while accommodating future expansion. Hence, Ambra designed a private 4G / 5G architecture providing pervasive coverage across the mine – above and below ground – replacing legacy Wi-Fi systems that had become limited in reliability and mobility.
This transformation enabled Côté Gold to automate its vehicle fleet; operate equipment remotely with greater accuracy; optimise operational decision-making in real time; and enhance worker safety through stable, reliable connectivity.
With Nokia supplying the private wireless and Ambra leading the engineering, network design, and end-to-end deployment, the network supports autonomous haul trucks and drills, real-time communications, and a wide range of operational use cases without reliance on public connectivity. The commissioned network was engineered to scale as the mine grows over the coming years.
“ This project represents a decisive step for the future of mining operations. With this private 4G / 5G connectivity, we are giving Côté Gold the technological foundations for a mine of the future: automated, secure, and capable of evolving at the pace of its ambition,” said Éric L’ Heureux, Founder and CEO of Ambra Solutions.“ Our mission is to contribute to a safer and smarter mining industry through reliable and optimal private LTE / 5G connectivity solutions, and the Côté Gold project reflects this vision.”
Matthew Young, Head of Mission Critical Enterprise, North America at Nokia, added:“ The mining industry faces complex challenges such as keeping employees healthy and safe along the entire supply chain. Our new telecommunications infrastructure provides IAMGOLD with comprehensive, automated connectivity to deliver on the company’ s digital transformation goals and maximise efficiency through autonomous operations.”
IWT continues to build on intelligent solutions underground
For more than two decades, Innovative Wireless Technologies( IWT) says it has focused on solving one of underground mining’ s most fundamental challenges: establishing reliable communications in an environment where conventional above-ground technologies often fall short. It adds:“ Today, IWT is building on that communications foundation to help mines create a more connected, intelligent underground operation.”
At the centre of IWT’ s underground network is the SENTINEL™ Communication
System, designed specifically for demanding underground mining conditions. SENTINEL provides wireless voice communications while also supporting real-time tracking, text messaging and the movement of sensor data throughout the mine.
Its node-based network architecture eliminates a single point of failure. If a communications path becomes unavailable, the network can reroute the signal through other nodes, helping maintain connectivity even when underground conditions change. IWT:“ That resilience is particularly important in mining, where the communications network is not simply an operational convenience, it is an essential component of both day-to-day productivity and emergency preparedness.”
But IWT also says the role of the underground communications network is changing.“ As mines become increasingly connected, operators are asking their networks to carry far more than voice. Information from atmospheric monitoring, personnel and equipment tracking, machinery, ventilation systems, belt conveyors, SCADA applications and other industrial systems can now provide an increasingly detailed picture of what is happening throughout an operation.”
It says the challenge is making that growing volume of information useful.“ Mines often have multiple systems generating valuable data independently, creating isolated information streams that require operators to move between applications to understand conditions underground. IWT’ s latest development addresses that challenge by extending the connected mine beyond communications into operational intelligence.”
IWT Clarity™ is a scalable, interoperable analytics platform designed to bring previously separated data streams together into a unified operational environment. The platform can combine information generated by SENTINEL with data from SCADA software and other industrial applications, allowing operators to view communications, tracking, atmospheric conditions, production activity and equipment information within a common context.
That integration it says changes how underground network data can be used.“ Rather than simply reviewing what happened during a previous shift, mine personnel can gain greater visibility into what is occurring in real time and respond accordingly. A dispatcher, for example, can see the location of crews and use that information to better coordinate resources. Production information can be evaluated alongside equipment performance and operational conditions, helping personnel identify bottlenecks or developing problems sooner.”
IWT Clarity also incorporates AI-assisted analytics to organise raw information and transform it into practical insights. Customisable dashboards and visualisations allow mines to present information according to the priorities of different users, from personnel managing day-today underground operations to executives looking for a broader operational overview.
IWT argues that the longer-term opportunity is predictive.“ By accumulating and analysing operational data over time, AI and machine-learning models can begin identifying patterns that help mines understand not only what has happened and what is happening, but what may happen next. Equipment data, for example, can be used to establish a profile of normal machine performance. Changes from that profile may provide an early indication of developing issues, supporting predictive maintenance and helping mines avoid unexpected failures and costly downtime.”
IWT CLARITY™ turns underground data into actionable intelligence, combining real-time visibility with predictive maintenance and AIdriven insights
For IWT, this represents the next evolution of the underground communications network.“ Without a dependable method of moving information between the underground environment and personnel above ground, digitalisation cannot deliver its full value. But once that infrastructure is established, the same connected environment can support a much broader ecosystem encompassing communications, personnel and asset location, atmospheric monitoring, machine data, production information and operational analytics.”
Forsk on LTE / 5G network planning and optimisation
Private 5G / LTE networks provide mines with reliable, secure, and predictable wireless connectivity across challenging environments. But designing these networks requires more than generic coverage planning. Mines require accurate terrain modelling, careful backhaul planning, support for underground environments, and a way to update the design as the site evolves.
12 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2026