COVER STORY
Driving smart mines – MTN leads the way By Nelendhre Moodley African multinational telecommunications giant MTN is redefining the future of mining through its next-generation 5G private networks—providing the foundation for mines to transition into fully connected, intelligent operations.
MTN’s private 5G networks enable major leaps in safety, operational efficiency, and automation.
M ining is one of MTN Business’s five key growth sectors, and the company continues to accelerate the rollout of private network coverage across Africa. Speaking to Modern Mining , Farah Abdulahi, General Manager: Large Enterprise at MTN Business, explains the company’s vision: “As a technology leader, MTN plays a pivotal role in bringing cutting-edge solutions, including 5G private networks, to Africa’s mining industry—a critical economic sector poised to unlock enormous value through digitisation.” MTN’s private 5G networks enable major leaps in safety, operational efficiency, and automation. Several mines are already deploying the technology, delivering measurable improvements across their operations. The company is firmly positioning itself as the leading enabler of digital transformation in mining through private 5G, IoT, cloud, and managed services—all underpinning safer, more sustainable mining. “We collaborate with leading technology providers and forward-thinking OEMs to deliver fully integrated solutions,” Abdulahi adds. Tangible results: The numbers tell the story Blessing Mdladla, Head of Enterprise Business Industry Vertical at MTN Business, says the mining industry is rapidly embracing digital tools such as IoT, AI, automation, and real-time analytics. “Smart mining enables autonomous vehicles, remote
operations, predictive maintenance, and improved safety through unified, real-time data,” he explains. “Smart equipment and intelligent software support optimised production.” By adopting these technologies, mines significantly reduce downtime while enhancing productivity and worker wellbeing— an overriding priority across the industry. According to Abdulahi, the impact adopting technology is striking. Accident response times have decreased by up to 50%, energy consumption by 10–15%, and productivity has risen 20–30%. Collectively, these improvements deliver around a 2% uplift on the bottom line—a substantial gain for an industry operating on tight margins. Safety, compliance, and predictive maintenance Safety and sustainability are central to mining operations. Strict regulatory requirements mean that lapses can result in severe penalties, including substantial fines or even the suspension of mining rights. This has driven strong uptake of technologies such as real-time tracking and predictive maintenance. “As part of the industry’s zero-harm objectives, mines are increasingly adopting real-time monitoring technologies to enhance employee safety, such as systems for detecting worker fatigue and missing-person locator,” explains Mdladla. Moreover, instead of relying solely on scheduled
12 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | February 2026
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