Nokia and Antofagasta Minerals Deploy Private Wireless Network to Accelerate Digital Transformation of Minera Centinela Operations in Chile

Nokia announced today that it has deployed an industrial-grade private wireless network with Antofagasta Minerals for Minera Centinela, to support secure and reliable operations at its copper mine in Chile. The network will allow the mining group to accelerate its digital transformation.

Nokia industrial-grade private wireless provides the high capacity and low latency required for enterprises, such as mining companies, to reliably and securely connect a variety of sensors, devices, equipment and vehicles, above and underground. The network, already in operation after being deployed in a record four months for Minera Centinela, will initially connect a fleet of autonomous trucks. Going forward it will support a wide array of operations as part of a five-year digitalization plan which aims to transform the mining sector, while enabling safer and more efficient operations.

Nokia designed and deployed the industrial-grade private 4.9G/LTE solution, including Nokia AirScale radio equipment, mobile packet core, IP/MPLS service aggregation routers, and Wavence microwave transmission.

Antofagasta’s Centinela open pit mine is located approximately 1,350 kilometers north of Santiago at an important mining zone with sulfur and oxides. The mine produces copper concentrate and cathodes, as well as molybdenum and gold. In August 2021, Centinela obtained the Copper Mark, which certifies that the company operates under strict internationally recognized sustainable production standards.