Nokia and Boldyn Networks have deployed a private 5G network nearly 1.5km underground at a disused copper mine in Finland in a bid to demonstrate how advanced connectivity can reshape one of the world’s most hazardous industries.
The project, at the Callio FutureMINE site in Pyhäjärvi, turns one of Europe’s deepest former mines into a testbed for digital technologies ranging from autonomous vehicles to digital twins.
Mining companies and equipment makers are using the facility to test systems designed to improve worker safety, cut downtime, and reduce emissions.
“Operations can be fully managed from the surface, making mining not only smarter, but significantly safer,” said Henrik Kiviniemi, Managing Director of Callio Pyhäjärvi. “Connectivity is critical. Downtime is expensive. Manual processes are risky. With private 5G, we’re solving both.”
Private 5G networks, unlike public mobile or Wi-Fi systems, offer dedicated, ultra-low latency connections designed to function in environments where conventional networks struggle. Underground mines, with their labyrinthine tunnels and heavy machinery, are notoriously difficult to cover.
At Pyhäjärvi, companies are already testing tele-remote vehicles, real-time tracking of workers, and equipment, and integrated 3D mapping platforms. Finnish software developer Cybercube is trialling a system that creates a live digital twin of the mine, while equipment maker Normet is experimenting with autonomous vehicles.
A shift to remote operation could mean “90% of underground workers operating from the surface”, said Mark Ryan, Normet’s Vice President of New Technology. “But that requires dedicated 5G networks. Open Wi-Fi and shared networks just don’t work reliably underground.”
The network, built on Nokia’s Modular Private Wireless platform, is designed to provide seamless coverage across multiple mining levels and kilometres of tunnels. Jaakko Kuukka, Boldyn’s Nordic Country Manager, said it was “the backbone of Callio’s vision for a fully automated test mine”.
For Nokia, the deployment underscores its push into industrial-grade private wireless systems, a growing segment of the telecoms market as manufacturers, energy groups and logistics operators look to harness 5G for automation.
“Mining is one of the toughest environments on earth for connectivity, and private 5G is proving to be a game-changer,” said Michael Aspinall, Head of Enterprise Campus Edge Eales in Europe at Nokia.
