Edzcom, a Cellnex affiliate company, and Callio Pyhäjärvi joined hands to boost the automation and digitalisation of the entire mining industry in Finland and Internationally through a state-of-the-art 5G Private Wireless Network.
Pyhäjärvi Callio’s project, known as the ‘FutureMINE– the future digital test mine project,’ is located in Pyhäsalmi, which is one of the deepest known mines in Europe, reaching 1445 m underground and seeks to unlock new possibilities, not only for the Mining Industry, but also for OEM manufacturers of vehicles and machines together with end users of the battery-powered technology, along with companies related to the Transport, Energy storages, Explosives and Tunnel Construction Industries.
The Private 5G Wireless Network, includes leading-edge Nokia Modular Private Wireless (MPW), Compact Mobility Unit (CMU) and Radio Access Network (RAN) covering a distance of 11.5 km total in length and eight levels underground. The purpose-built solution has been designed to support the most demanding applications such as predictive maintenance, location services, 3D modelling, advanced analytics, mining automation among other key use cases. The project’s key focus areas include testing and verifying various mining applications, developing future mining services which require full coverage, continuous improvement, innovation, and enabling ecosystems for future digitalisation and development of sustainable solutions.
Sakari Nokela, Chief Development Officer at Callio Pyhäjärvi, said: “Edzcom and Nokia are the valued partners chosen for this long-term strategic collaboration due to their extensive experience in private wireless networks and their commitment to join us on this journey ahead. Callio recognizes the importance of agility and adaptability in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. Through this partnership, we are confident in our ability to make dynamic changes that optimise our network infrastructure and propel us towards greater efficiency and innovation.”
Henrik Kiviniemi, Town Manager, said: “We have full confidence that this project will bring about transformative changes not only to the mining industry but also to the community of Pyhäjärvi. Callio firmly believes in the power of innovation and technology to drive positive impact. We chose Edzcom as they are the undisputed leader in Private Networks with over 20 references in Finland including a portfolio of top leader industries.”
Petri Parviainen, Senior Key Account Manager at Edzcom, said: “We are extremely pleased that Callio entrusts us for our leading position among private network providers in Europe, with proven capabilities to build reliable connectivity solutions in very demanding environments. We are committed with Callio and Nokia the FutureMine to become the best-in-class test mine in the world.”
Pekka Hakala, Sales lead to private wireless – Finland at Nokia, said: “Nokia and Edzcom are excited to strengthen our partnership and push the boundaries of connectivity with this groundbreaking project, to drive digital transformation across industries. By combining our expertise in leading-edge network solutions with Edzcom’s proficiency in private networks and Callio’s forward-thinking approach, we are poised to unlock unprecedented possibilities for underground mines.”
By building Private 5G Wireless networks, Callio Pyhäjärvi Industry Park has achieved a milestone in becoming a best-in-class Test Mine, pioneering new use cases, enabling mining automation, enhancing safety measures, predictive maintenance, optimising mining operations, and developing advanced analytics.