Nokia is deploying a 5G standalone (5G SA) network in Finland to accelerate digital transformation in mining operations.
Working with mobile operator Telia and partner Digita, Nokia will deliver a private 5G network for Agnico Eagle Finland Oy, operator of the Kittilä mine in northern Finland.
Kittilä is the largest primary gold producer in Europe. The new 5G SA network is intended to support Industry 4.0 applications across the site, including both surface and underground operations.
Tommi Kankkunen, General Manager of the Kittilä mine, said:
“Having already piloted autonomous and remotely controlled machinery in recent years, we chose to work with Nokia, Telia, and Digita to deliver capabilities for the next phase of our digital transformation journey.
We want to innovate by using the latest technologies and will leverage the Nokia 5G SA private network to enhance operational efficiency and support the highest level of safety for teams working at the mine.”
The network is designed to reach depths of up to one kilometre to ensure connectivity for both below-ground and surface activities. It will use real-time edge processing to enable low-latency services and local data handling.
Planned Industry 4.0 use cases include autonomous vehicles, high-precision positioning for equipment and personnel, and enhanced group communications to improve coordination and safety.
Stephan Litjens, Head of Enterprise Solutions at Nokia, commented:
“This is another great example of how collaboration across the ecosystem is essential for developing winning technology solutions to meet productivity, safety, and sustainability targets.
We are pleased to work with Telia and Digita to deliver our leading 5G standalone private wireless technology and enable new Industry 4.0 use cases for the Kittilä Mine.
Nokia industrial private wireless networks provide secure, reliable connectivity to meet the stringent operational demands of today’s mining industry, and 5G enables even greater levels of performance.”
The deployment will use Nokia’s Modular Private Wireless (MPW) solution, integrating Nokia 5G RAN AirScale base stations and a Compact Mobility Unit-based 5G core. The architecture supports secure, low-latency, and high-throughput connectivity tailored to demanding industrial environments.
Deployment is planned in phases, with completion estimated by October 2022. Phased implementation allows testing and gradual expansion of services to ensure reliability and safety as new use cases are introduced.
(Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash)