This week, I had the honour of attending the Swedish Business Reception at Government House in Sydney, graced by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, along with Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Mr Johan Forssell. The visit focused on bolstering the ties between Australian and Swedish businesses, emphasizing themes related to the United Nations Agenda 2030 and sustainability. Given the prominent role both nations play in the global mining industry, discussions centered on how companies like Ericsson can support the sector's transition toward a sustainable future.
Advancing Safer, Smarter, and Sustainable Mines
At Ericsson, sustainability is at the core of our operations and the services we provide. We had the privilege of presenting at the Swedish-Australian Sustainable Mining Summit in Sydney, where we showcased our partnership with Newcrest Mining at their Lihir and Cadia mines. This collaboration, involving Newcrest and Telstra Purple, highlights how digitalisation and connectivity are transforming the mining industry to create safer, smarter, and more sustainable operations.
Newcrest is set to trial advanced private 4G LTE and 5G networks in its underground operations at Cadia Valley, complementing its existing surface private LTE network. Automation, a crucial technology in modern mining, not only enhances worker safety by removing them from hazardous environments but also reduces operational emissions, promoting a more sustainable industry. With the superior performance and capabilities of 4G and 5G mobile technologies over traditional Wi-Fi, this trial will allow Newcrest to explore enhanced connectivity, capacity, and functionality for underground Automation and teleremote-controlled machinery.
Our collaboration with Newcrest and Telstra Purple to trial Ericsson’s 4G LTE and 5G solutions is a significant step forward. It provides Newcrest with valuable insights into deploying these technologies underground effectively, contributing to the exciting evolution of Australia’s mining industry. This partnership underscores how Australia’s position as a global 5G leader can drive digitalisation across its largest industry.
Commitment to Continued Collaboration
The remarks by Mr Johan Forssell and Senator the Hon Tim Ayers highlighted the robust economic collaboration between Australia and Sweden, which has been instrumental in driving growth and enhancing the global competitiveness of both nations. Ericsson is proud to have been a part of Australia's connectivity landscape for 133 years, partnering with local telcos to introduce innovative technologies that have revolutionized communication.
The strong, enduring ties between Sweden and Australia have positioned both countries as leaders in 5G connectivity and technological innovation. With shared goals of innovation, sustainability, and growth, the future of Swedish-Australian collaboration looks promising, and we at Ericsson are excited to continue contributing to this partnership.
