Vodacom’s enterprise unit has developed a special private mobile network to help with the running of a Sasol’s plant in Mpumalanga, underscoring the value of latest generation communication technologies.
Mobile operators have long argued that while consumers would enjoy the improved speed and reliability of 5G, the fifth generation of mobile technologies, the real benefits would be seen in the industrial sector.
This week, Vodacom Business said it had deployed a mobile private network (MPN) at Sasol’s synthetic fuel facility in Secunda.
An MPN is a dedicated, localised wireless network that provides secure, reliable connectivity for a specific group of users, devices and machines, often within a single organisation or facility such as a factory, campus or mine
Also referred to as nonpublic networks, it is essentially a mini-cellular network operating in a defined and closed off area, typically using 4G LTE technology, but has been touted as a benefit of 5G.
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in leveraging advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency and connectivity in the industrial sector,” said SA’s largest mobile operator.
Vodacom and rivals MTN and Telkom have been deploying private 5G networks, especially in industries such as mining and ports.
If Sasol wanted to connect about 3,000 people working across the large operation using Wi-Fi, for example, “they would have had to roll out a huge amount of infrastructure across the site, which is not only time-consuming and extremely costly but it’s also highly inefficient”, the Vodafone subsidiary said.
The MPN integrates Vodacom’s network infrastructure with Sasol’s systems, sharpening connectivity to employees, equipment and company assets. Additionally, the solution enables “real-time and remote monitoring, improves safety and compliance, streamlines asset management, boosts collaboration and optimises overall operational efficiency.”
For Sasol, the private network also ensures that data doesn’t leave the site, helping to provide low latency and high uptime for its facility, which has to stay up and running continuously.
Peter Malebye, managing executive at Vodacom Business, said: “Our MPN solution provides a dedicated, secure and high-performance mobile network tailored to meet the specific needs of Sasol’s operations. It delivers the scalability and reliability required to ensure continuity for its mission and business critical application.
“When all of this comes together, an organisation can ultimately bring in other innovations, such as digital twins or enable remote and autonomous operations to improve planning.”
Victor Bester, Sasol executive vice-president of Operations and Projects, said: “As part of Sasol’s digitalisation journey, there is a focus on utilising technology to improve processes that affect safety and efficiency across our facilities.
“This initiative allows us to accelerate these efforts through improved connectivity and control of the mobile network deployed at our Secunda production facility.”
While the use of these private networks is becoming increasingly relevant in an SA context, Malebye said there was some way to go before they were as widespread as traditional public mobile networks.
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