Vi Business and Hindalco Partner to Build Dedicated Private Network for ‘DigiMine’ Transformation

Vi Business, the enterprise arm of leading telecom operator Vi, has announced a strategic partnership with Hindalco Industries Limited a global leader in aluminium and copper to deploy a dedicated private network at Hindalco’s Baphlimali Bauxite Mine in the Rayagada district of Odisha. Marking Hindalco’s first private network implementation, this multi-year managed services deployment encompasses the complete private network stack, including spectrum, core, RAN, and managed services. The infrastructure will serve as the digital backbone for Hindalco’s digital transformation and Industry 4.0 journey.

Digital Use Cases, Safety Solutions, and Command Centre:
Powered by Vi’s Private Network, Hindalco will deploy advanced digital use cases designed to revolutionize mining operations. Key focus areas include:

Worker Safety Solutions: Enhanced real-time monitoring and safety protocols to protect personnel.

Smart Fleet Management: Optimized tracking and management of heavy machinery and transport vehicles.

Surveillance and Automation: Drone and CCTV-based real-time monitoring across vast mining terrains.

Integrated Command and Control Centre: A centralized hub providing real-time operational visibility, data-driven decision-making, and complete control over mining activities to foster a safer, smarter, and more efficient “DigiMine.”

Leadership Perspectives on Industry 4.0 and Sustainability:
Commenting on the collaboration, M P Sunil Kumar, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Vi Business, stated: “We are delighted to partner with Hindalco on this landmark initiative. This deployment underscores our capability to engineer customized private networks for complex industrial environments, enabling the next generation of intelligent mining.”

Kailash Pandey, CEO of Aluminium Upstream at Hindalco Industries Limited, added: “At Hindalco, digitalization and Industry 4.0 technologies are central to our vision of building future-ready operations. Our first dedicated Private network at Baphlimali will create a critical digital backbone for connected, automated, and data-driven mining operations.” Furthermore, this digital modernization complements Baphlimali’s commitment to responsible mining, underscored by its recent Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard Certification for meeting rigorous ESG benchmarks.