Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea, has partnered with Hindalco Industries to deploy a dedicated private network at the company’s Baphlimali Bauxite Mine in Odisha. The collaboration will establish a digital communications backbone to support connected mining operations and advance Hindalco’s digital mining capabilities.
The project marks Hindalco’s first implementation of a dedicated private network at a mine. Located in Rayagada district, the Baphlimali mine is a key source of bauxite for the company’s aluminium operations.
Under a multi-year managed services agreement, Vi Business will provide an end-to-end private network solution covering spectrum, core network infrastructure, radio access network (RAN) and managed services. The network is intended to provide reliable connectivity across mining operations and support the deployment of digital technologies at the site.
The dedicated network will serve as the communications foundation for connected mining activities, where dependable connectivity is essential for coordinating equipment, personnel and operational processes. The arrangement brings together telecom infrastructure and industrial operations to support the mine’s digital transformation.
Hindalco has been expanding the use of technology across its mining and manufacturing operations as part of its wider focus on operational efficiency and responsible resource management. The private network initiative at Baphlimali represents a step towards integrating digital connectivity more closely with mining activities.
The partnership also reflects the growing role of enterprise telecom services in industrial sectors, where dedicated networks can provide connectivity tailored to operational requirements. Unlike reliance solely on public mobile networks, a private network can be designed around the coverage, reliability and performance needs of a specific industrial site.
For Vi Business, the project adds to its enterprise connectivity portfolio, while Hindalco gains a dedicated network platform to support the development of digital mining applications at Baphlimali.
The deployment is expected to provide the foundation for further digitalisation of mining operations at the site, with the multi-year agreement covering network infrastructure and ongoing managed services.
