Sweden’s Ericsson and Epiroc say they have expanded an eight-year-old technology collaboration into a global “go-to-market alliance” aimed at increasing mining market uptake of the former’s 5G cellular offerings and Epiroc’s automation and digital products.
The two Stockholm-listed public companies, with a combined current market value around US$78 billion, started cooperating in 2018 on ways to boost LTE (long term evolution) wireless and then 5G use in underground and surface mines.
Ericsson has since established some beachhead applications of its cellular networks at mines in Australia and elsewhere while Epiroc has significantly expanded its mining digital and automation technology portfolio through acquisitions.
Epiroc says it is now offering Ericsson LTE and 5G as part of its surface and underground mining digital portfolio through its worldwide sales network. An integrated approach “made it easier for mining customers to deploy secure and high-performing wireless networks, laying the foundational layer for scaling automation, remote operations and predictive maintenance”, it says.
“By combining Ericsson’s leadership in cellular technology with Epiroc’s strong global presence and extensive knowledge of mining applications and customer needs, the partnership provides customers with a unified solution for deploying foundational wireless networks.”
