In Western Australia, the Newmont Boddington gold mine is offering a real-world view of how private cellular connectivity is transforming heavy industry. The operation spans several kilometers and processes tens of millions of tons of material each year, making reliable connectivity critical to its business. In partnership with Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, FNTV’s “The Autonomous Mine” documentary series follows how Newmont Boddington moved away from Wi-Fi to private 5G, to support large scale automation across a constantly shifting environment.
The series shows how private cellular networks became the foundation for autonomy after Wi-Fi proved unable to deliver consistent coverage, mobility, or reliability. At Newmont Boddington, private 5G now supports a fleet of fully autonomous haul trucks and drill rigs that generate vast amounts of data and require uninterrupted connectivity. Centralized control rooms allow operators to supervise autonomous machines remotely, improving safety while increasing productivity and operational confidence.
By keeping the mining workforce out of high-risk areas, the mine has improved safety while creating new roles that expand mechanical expertise with digital and networking skills. Automation has made mining more inclusive and attractive to younger generations and a diverse workforce, with people remaining central to planning, oversight, and decision-making. Together, the series presents private 5G not just as a technology upgrade, but as a foundation for a long-term industrial revolution.