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Vi Business, the enterprise arm of leading telecom operator Vi, has announced a strategic partnership with Hindalco Industries Limited, a global leader in aluminium and copper, to deploy a dedicated private network at Hindalco’s Baphlimali bauxite mine in Rayagada district, Odisha. Vi Business is the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea Ltd, the Indian telecommunication service provider formed in 2018 through the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.
Baphlimali is one of Hindalco’s strategically important bauxite mining operations and a key source of high-quality bauxite for its integrated aluminium value chain. The deployment marks Hindalco’s first private network implementation and a significant milestone in its digital transformation and Industry 4.0 journey, in alignment with Hindalco’s vision to build connected, intelligent and future-ready mines.
This multi-year managed services deployment encompasses the complete private network stack, including spectrum, core, RAN and managed services. The network will serve as the digital backbone for Hindalco’s connected mining journey, enabling secure and reliable connectivity across the mine.
Powered by Vi’s Private Network, Hindalco will be able to deploy multiple digital use cases focused on worker’s safety solutions, fleet management, drone and CCTV based surveillance, real-time monitoring and operational efficiency. One of the key pillars of this transformation is the Integrated Command and Control Centre, which will provide centralised visibility, data driven decision-making and control of mining operations, supporting Hindalco’s vision of a safer, smarter and more efficient DigiMine. These applications will support real-time operational visibility, enhanced workforce safety and more efficient mining operations.
Designed to deliver secure, reliable and high-performance connectivity, the network will provide a scalable
digital foundation for safer, smarter and more efficient mining operations. The collaboration brings together Vi ’s expertise in enterprise connectivity and Hindalco’s vision of building future-ready, technology-enabled mining operations.
It also reflects the Group’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies to drive innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. It is an example of how two companies are leveraging advanced digital technologies and connectivity to modernise critical industries, strengthen India’s industrial competitiveness and contribute to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat through digitally empowered, future-ready infrastructure and operations.
Commenting on the announcement, M P Sunil Kumar, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Vi Business, said: “We are delighted to partner with Hindalco on this landmark initiative. This deployment underscores our capability to engineer customised private networks for complex industrial environments. By combining secure, high-performance connectivity with a scalable architecture, we are enabling the next generation of intelligent mining and supporting Hindalco’s long-term digital transformation vision.”
Kailash Pandey, CEO, Aluminium Upstream, Hindalco Industries Ltd, said: “At Hindalco, digitalisation and Industry 4.0 technologies are central to our vision of building future-ready operations. Our first dedicated private network at Baphlimali will create a critical digital backbone for connected, automated, and data-driven mining operations. This initiative strengthens our journey towards safer, smarter, and more efficient mining, while reinforcing Hindalco’s position as a technology-led metals company.”
Baphlimali’s digital transformation also complements Hindalco’s focus on responsible mining. The mine recently achieved the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard Certification, recognising its alignment with globally recognised environmental, social and governance standards. Together, advanced connectivity and responsible mining practices are supporting the evolution of Baphlimali into a safer, smarter and more future-ready mining operation.
The deployment Vi Business says further reinforces its capabilities in delivering secure, resilient and enterprise-grade connectivity for industrial digitalisation, enabling next-generation applications focused on automation, productivity, worker safety and real -time operational intelligence across complex industrial environments.
As enterprises increasingly adopt dedicated network infrastructure for mission – critical operations, Vi Business says it remains committed to delivering secure, scalable, and future-ready connectivity solutions that accelerate digital transformation across industries.
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