Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to set up the first Captive Non-Public Network of 5G in the refinery industry in India. This cooperation, concluded as part of the “Industry 4.0 Workshop on CPSEs” in Guwahati, is a big step in developing industrial digital infrastructure.
Joined by the Ministry of Finance and DPE, some of the other bodies that featured at the workshop include the BSNL, NRL, AMTRON Corporation, and the Assam Electronics Development Corporation (AMTRON), along with other Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). As per the agreement terms, both BSNL and NRL will have a common goal of developing a real-time indigenous secure 5G CNPN. This will facilitate the workflows that matter to the refinery sector since it will enhance the workflows in the industry and maximize the reliability of the network.
The planned 5G CNPN will serve as a platform on which Industry 4.0 technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, and immersive technologies like AR, VR, and MR will be deployed. These tools will enhance the efficiency of operations and make data-driven decision-making possible within NRL's industrial functions.
During the same address, SNL officials noted the contribution made by the CNPN to the boost in digital growth. Robert J Ravi said that this is one of the initiatives to ensure that BSNL supports India's strategic sectors with next-generation infrastructure. According to the SNL Director of Enterprise Business, Papa Sudhakara Rao, the initiative is in line with the national initiative of implementing 5G and revolutionizing industrial settings.
According to the Department of Public Enterprises, the initiative is in line with the government of South Africa's strategy, the Whole of Government (WoG). The authorities think that the undertaking will result in the creation of jobs, enhancement of technical expertise, and aid in modernization, especially within the Northeast region.
BSNL has started its 4G network since the latter possesses 5G-effective spectrum resources, and the current resources will be utilized in the implementation of CNPNs. Through the association with NRL, BSNL will highlight an achievable model that can be re-created in other sectors, achieving the objective of making India self-reliant and well-connected in a digital world.