Huawei and a Botswana-based mining company are gathering forces to launch the world’s first “smart” diamond mine that will provide stable connectivity and enhances interconnection between the mine’s production, safety and security.
Debswana Diamond Company Limited and Huawei announced the 5G-oriented smart diamond mine project today at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2023 conference.
Debswana’s head of information management, Molemisi Nelson Sechaba, said the Huawei-enabled smart mine platform is now being used at Debswana’s Jwangeng open-pit diamond mine and the project started operation earlier in December 2021.
The Jwanneng mine is the world’s first smart diamond mine. Smart technologies refer to digital devices and systems that have advanced capabilities like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. They represent a new autonomous fashion of gathering, delivering and processing information.
So in the case of a smart diamond mine, a lot of the equipment being used will be automated, or provide information via IoT sensors with increased processing ability via AI for processing information faster and more efficiently than before.
Additionally, the hardware equipment like base stations used in the mine’s digital transformation solution support network upgrades to 5G. 5G offers high bandwidth with low latency and can support technologies like autonomous driving. This allows smart technology to run smoother.
Subsequently, Huawei’s 5G eLTE private network connects 260 pieces of equipment in the mine. This allows for interconnection between the mine’s production, safety and security systems.
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New technology deployed to improve safety and efficiency
A formulated digitalization agenda, 5G roadmap and other supporting policies are already underway at the mine, according to Sechaba.
Sechaba also indicated the importance of deploying the eLTE solution to connect mining equipment in a more stable manner. The two principle reasons were for efficiency and the improvement of safety. Consequently, in terms of efficiency, the ability to transfer data in real time increases the efficiency of mining vehicles. It increases yield and reduces long term operation expenses.
For safety, Sechaba said, the real time data collection, backhaul and interaction increased system sensitivity and accuracy. This provided more reliable protection for staff and vehicles.
“Debswana is a leading mining company in Africa that, by working with Huawei, can take the efficiency, productivity and safety of mining to the next level,” said Thulagano M. Segokgo, minister of communications, knowledge and technology of Botswana.
The connectivity improvements allow smart devices to communicate faster and more efficiently, and process and analyze data in real time.
MWC Barcelona is an annual trade show dedicated primarily to the mobile communications industry.
Debswana also intends to deploy its smart mining operation in its Orapa, Damtshaa and Latlhakane mines in 2023.
Cao Ming giving a keynote speech at MWC Barcelona 2023. Image via Huawei.
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Huawei releases solutions to drive all bands to 5G
Also at MWC Barcelona, Huawei revealed a full series of One 5G solutions, which it states will be capable of driving all bands to 5G.
“To help operators maximize the value of each band and continuously improve network capabilities in multiple dimensions, Huawei’s One 5G solutions not only deliver industry-leading performance, but also feature simplified O&M and deployment, as well as unrivaled energy efficiency and evolution ability,” said said Cao Ming, president of Huawei Wireless Product Line.
Advanced software and hardware combinations, like extremely large antenna array (ELAA) and the adaptive high resolution (AHR) algorithm can produce optimal time-division duplexing (TDD) coverage.
TDD coverage is a type of wireless communication that allows simultaneous transmission and reception of data. TDD coverage is used in many wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, LTE, and 5G. It allows for higher data rates and better coverage than traditional frequency-division duplexing (FDD) systems.
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