The private 5G Standalone network will utilize spectrum allocated to BSNL
Indian state-run telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in partnership with Indian IT systems integrator Echelon Edge, has reportedly secured a contract with Coal India Limited (CIL) to install a private 5G network at the Amlohri Open Cast Coal Mines in Madhya Pradesh, India.
According to a report from local news site ETTelecom, the private 5G Standalone network will utilize spectrum allocated to BSNL. The network has been specifically designed by Echelon Edge to address the unique environmental and terrain-related challenges faced in coal mining operations, according to the report. The 5G network deployment will enable various use cases, including video surveillance, asset tracking, IoT-based environmental monitoring, drone-assisted remote monitoring and reliable voice and data communication services.
The project will also explore advanced applications such as virtual reality models of the mine, digital twin technology for load-haul dump operations and a collision avoidance system leveraging cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology. Additionally, AI-driven solutions will be employed to enhance traffic management and optimize haul-road crossings, the report added.
The initiative, supported by the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI), is expected to be completed by next month.
“This project is a clear example of India’s growing capabilities in technology, particularly in deploying 5G solutions for critical industries like coal mining,” said Echelon Edge’s founder and CEO, Gaurav Gandhi.
BSNL and Echelon Edge initially collaborated in 2023 to develop private 5G networks.
BSNL is nearing its milestone of deploying 100,000 4G towers across the country, according to local press reports.
The operator has relied on domestically developed technology for this massive rollout. According to Jyotiraditya Scindia, India’s telecom minister, BSNL plans to shift its focus to 5G deployment once the 100,000 4G towers are in place, a goal expected to be achieved by April-May 2025.
To date, BSNL has already installed over 62,000 4G towers. The company’s 5G deployment will only require an upgrade of the 4G technology it is currently implementing.
Scindia highlighted the government’s decision to prioritize Indian technology over foreign solutions for BSNL’s 4G rollout. He noted that this approach was challenging but strategic, making India one of only five countries globally to develop its own 4G technology stack.
Over the last several years, BSNL has lost market share to rival telcos Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel due to the lack of extended 4G coverage across the country. BSNL lost 18 million customers in the last fiscal year, bringing its customer base to 88.06 million.
