Germany-based Becker Mining Systems, a supplier of systems and equipment for the mining industry, has agreed with Ericsson to resell the Swedish telecoms vendor’s private LTE and 5G bundle to its mining customers. The deal is a multi-country reselling agreement, said Ericsson. Becker Mining Systems, which also supplies ruggedised communications equipment to mining companies, has subsidiaries in France, Poland, Russia, China, South Africa, Australia, the US, Canada, Mexico, and Chile.
A statement said Becker Mining Systems, headquartered in Saarland, Germany, has “selected Ericsson as the 5G network partner of choice”. The arrangement covers Ericsson’s EP5G-branded private networks offer, which includes LTE as well, and includes radio (RAN) and “dual mode core” componentry. It will be sold to mining companies to connect machines, processes, and people in “indoor” (including underground) and outdoor environments.
Ericsson, which claimed to have “almost doubled” sales of enterprise wireless solutions during the third quarter, compared with a year ago, pitched its private networks offer for “automation of ventilation systems, gas monitoring, real-time vehicle and personnel tracking, telemetry of production equipment, and remote control of production equipment”. It cited operational efficiencies, financial savings, energy savings, and workplace safety as benefits.
Thomas Noren, head of dedicated networks at Ericsson, said: “With deployments underway in several countries, Ericsson and Becker are working together to create data-driven mines around the world. Wireless connectivity through EP5G creates smarter mines that take advantage of electrification, data and information analysis, machine automation and advanced operations that increase productivity, keep miners safe and cut their carbon footprint.”
Franz Becker, chief executive officer at Becker Mining Systems, said: “Connected mine projects are the future of the mining industry by guaranteeing efficiency, greater profitability, safety for miners and less environmental impact, by automating mining companies they can increase their sustainability by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This solution heralds in Industry 4.0 and will become a global benchmark for the mining industry.”
