Huawei and China Mobile test 5G-A uplink speed in open-pit mine

Huawei and China Mobile Inner Mongolia have successfully completed a verification of the 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network's uplink capability within an open-pit mine environment. The test took place at the Huazhi Yimin open-pit mine in Hulunbuir, achieving a peak single-user uplink speed of 1022 Mbps.

The trial utilized the 4.9GHz frequency band along with F/A SUL (supplementary uplink) technology. This high uplink speed is crucial for the advancement of smart mining operations, which increasingly rely on high-definition video surveillance, remote equipment control, autonomous mining vehicles, and real-time edge AI analytics.

Open-pit mining environments present complex radio conditions and challenges for base station deployment. Traditional networks have faced limitations in uplink bandwidth, high latency, and coverage difficulties, hindering the transition towards less manned or unmanned mining. The new 5G-A solution integrates multiple key technologies, including uplink carrier aggregation and TDD spectrum slot ratio optimization.

Beyond achieving peak speeds, the technology also ensured a stable uplink rate exceeding 20 Mbps in weak coverage areas at the mine's periphery. This provides a robust network foundation for the scaled deployment of autonomous mining vehicles and wireless video surveillance systems, supporting the move towards greater automation in the mining sector.