Sedna Africa Highlights Importance of Mobile Private Network Readiness Surveys for Digital Mining

As African mines accelerate digital transformation, reliable, high-performance connectivity is becoming essential to support autonomous equipment, connected workers, industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), predictive maintenance and real-time operational visibility. According to Sedna Africa, the success of these technologies depends on thorough Mobile Private Network (MPN) readiness assessments conducted before deployment begins.

The company says detailed readiness surveys are critical to ensuring mining operations have the infrastructure, network architecture and operational preparedness needed to support private LTE and 5G networks.

“Many people see the deployment of a private LTE or 5G network as the starting point of the project, but in reality the success of the network is determined during the survey phase,” said Raymond Mhlongo, Technical Director at Sedna Africa.

Mining operations present some of the most demanding environments for wireless communications due to their vast geographical footprints, changing terrain, remote locations and mission-critical applications. To address these challenges, Sedna Africa begins by assessing coverage requirements across operational areas including open pits, processing plants, workshops, haul roads, waste dumps and other key facilities.

The surveys also evaluate server rooms, data centres, fibre infrastructure, communication towers, power availability, backup systems and the radio frequency environment. The findings are used to develop detailed LTE or 5G network designs covering coverage modelling, antenna placement, high-site selection, backhaul planning and network capacity.

According to Mhlongo, the objective is to build a complete understanding of each mine’s connectivity ecosystem while identifying infrastructure gaps and potential risks before implementation begins.

The readiness assessments also examine how proposed private networks will integrate with existing operational technology systems to support both current and future digital initiatives.

Sedna Africa notes that early identification of constraints such as limited tower space, inadequate backup power, fibre limitations, third-party infrastructure dependencies and radio interference helps reduce project risks, improve deployment timelines and optimise network performance.

“Mining companies are increasingly investing in digital transformation initiatives, but those investments depend on reliable connectivity,” Mhlongo said. “The survey gives us the information needed to design a practical, scalable and future-ready network that supports the mine’s operational goals.”

Anton Fester, CEO of Sedna Africa, said robust connectivity has become the foundation of modern mining operations as the industry embraces automation, data-driven decision-making and connected technologies.

“Our MPN surveys provide the foundation for that success by ensuring that network designs are practical, scalable and aligned with the realities of the operating environment,” Fester said. “Ultimately, we are helping mines build the digital backbone that will support the next generation of mining across Africa.”

Once completed, survey findings are compiled into a comprehensive report covering network readiness, fibre and backhaul capacity, power infrastructure, radio frequency considerations and deployment constraints. The results directly inform network design, implementation planning and capacity modelling.

Sedna Africa says private mobile networks are becoming increasingly important as mines adopt connected worker solutions, fleet management, industrial IoT, safety systems, advanced analytics and last-known-location capabilities that support emergency response during missing-person or lone-worker incidents.

“Connectivity is no longer simply about communications,” Mhlongo said. “It has become the foundation that enables digital mining. Our role is to ensure that foundation is designed correctly from the outset, giving our customers the confidence to deploy technologies that improve safety, productivity and operational efficiency.”

The company believes its engineering-led approach to MPN readiness assessments helps mining companies reduce deployment risks, accelerate implementation and maximise returns on digital transformation investments as the sector moves towards smarter, safer and more connected operations.