Vertical: Mining
Application: Remote operation monitoring, autonomous drilling, teleoperation, fleet management, Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT), real-time video surveillance, sensor integration
Ecosystem: Claro empresas, Huawei, Minera Chinalco Perú
Private Network: 5G
| Peru’s first autonomous mining-grade private 5G network goes live Minera Chinalco Perú now controls the Toromocho mine in Junín from a remote operations center 150 kilometers away in Lima, supported by Claro empresas and Huawei infrastructure. |
Minera Chinalco Perú has deployed a private 5G network at its Toromocho mining unit in Junín, Peru, enabling real-time remote operation of heavy equipment, autonomous drilling, and centralized oversight from a control center located more than 150 kilometers away in Lima. The network, built by Claro empresas with infrastructure from Huawei, represents the first private 5G deployment in Peru specifically designed to support autonomous mining systems and marks a significant milestone for industrial connectivity in the country’s mining sector.
The deployment underpins the operation of Chinalco’s Centro GIO (Gestión Integrada de Operaciones), a centralized platform that integrates fleet management, plant operations, maintenance, and logistics data streams to enable coordinated decision-making based on real-time information. The network’s low latency and high capacity support the transmission of large volumes of operational data, video feeds, and sensor telemetry from the mine site to data centers and the remote operations center, reducing the need for personnel to work in high-risk zones while maintaining operational continuity.
| Metric | Detail |
| Network type | Private 5G |
| Location | Toromocho mining unit, Junín, Peru |
| Remote control distance | More than 150 km (Lima to Toromocho) |
| Vendor(s) | Claro empresas, Huawei |
| Timeline | Announced December 2025, operational February 2026 |
| Key capabilities | Autonomous drilling, teleoperation, real-time fleet management, MCPTT communications |
Mining Digitization Drives Network Investment
Minera Chinalco Perú operates in a challenging environment at high altitude in the Peruvian Andes, where traditional mining operations expose workers to significant physical and safety risks. The company identified digital transformation as a strategic priority to improve operational efficiency, worker safety, and environmental compliance. The decision to deploy a private 5G network was driven by the need for a dedicated, secure, and scalable connectivity platform capable of supporting real-time control of autonomous equipment and the integration of multiple operational systems under a single management framework.
Willy Coronado, Gerente de TICA at Minera Chinalco Perú, emphasized the company’s commitment to evolving its operations while prioritizing worker safety. The Centro GIO serves as the operational hub, bringing together telemetry from heavy and light fleet vehicles, sensors distributed across the mine site, and video surveillance systems. The private network architecture ensures operational independence from public cellular infrastructure, a critical requirement for maintaining service continuity in remote industrial environments. Similar challenges have driven industrial private 5G deployments at the Port of Hamburg and other logistics-intensive sites.
Technical Architecture and Network Specifications
The private 5G network deployed at Toromocho is built on Huawei radio access and core network infrastructure, with Claro empresas serving as the integrator and operator. The network provides high bandwidth, low latency, and scalability designed to accommodate future expansion of use cases. The architecture maintains operational independence from public networks, ensuring that critical mining operations are not vulnerable to congestion or service interruptions on commercial mobile networks. The system integrates fleet tracking, sensor data, real-time video streams, and critical safety applications, transporting large volumes of information from mine operations to centralized data centers and the Centro GIO in Lima.
A key technical component of the deployment is the Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT) system, a 3GPP-defined standard for critical communications. MCPTT enables prioritized and secure voice communications among equipment operators, supervisors, and administrative personnel, strengthening coordination and incident response capabilities. The low latency characteristics of 5G are essential for teleoperation use cases, where operators in Lima remotely control drilling equipment and other heavy machinery at the mine site with minimal delay. Henry Puca, Director of the Mining unit at Huawei Perú, noted that the integration of 5G connectivity with cloud services and artificial intelligence algorithms significantly reduces response times and improves operational safety. Similar remote control applications are emerging in other industrial sectors, including rail transport in Queensland and electric utility grid management in Florida.
Remote Operations Center and Autonomous Drilling
The Sala de Estaciones de Teleoperación in Lima serves as the command center for remote mining operations at Toromocho. From this facility, operators design missions, supervise autonomous drilling operations, and monitor equipment performance in real time. The distance of more than 150 kilometers between the control center and the mine site presents significant connectivity challenges that are addressed by the private 5G network’s bandwidth and latency performance. Autonomous drilling systems execute pre-programmed drilling patterns with precision, relying on continuous data exchange between the equipment and the remote control center.
The remote operations model reduces the need for personnel to be physically present at the mine site, particularly in hazardous areas or during operations involving blasting and heavy equipment movement. This shift improves worker safety by minimizing exposure to physical risks while enabling skilled operators to work from urban centers with better living conditions. The network supports the integration of cloud-based services and artificial intelligence algorithms that optimize drilling patterns, predict equipment maintenance needs, and analyze operational efficiency. These capabilities position Chinalco Perú as a reference case for intelligent mining in Latin America, demonstrating how convergence of autonomy, advanced connectivity, and remote control can redefine mining standards. The success of remote operations centers in mining mirrors similar initiatives in aviation and other transport-intensive industries.
Operational and Safety Benefits
The deployment of the private 5G network has generated measurable improvements in both operational efficiency and worker safety. The network enables real-time monitoring of fleet performance, allowing maintenance teams to identify and address equipment issues before they result in downtime. The integration of video surveillance and sensor data provides supervisors with comprehensive situational awareness, supporting faster decision-making and improved incident response. The MCPTT system ensures that critical communications are prioritized, even during periods of high network demand, maintaining reliable voice connectivity among operations personnel.
From a safety perspective, the ability to operate equipment remotely from Lima reduces the number of workers exposed to hazards such as rockfalls, equipment collisions, and exposure to high-altitude conditions. The network also supports the deployment of wearable safety devices and environmental sensors that monitor air quality, seismic activity, and other risk factors, providing early warnings of potential hazards. Mariano Orihuela, Director de Mercado Corporativo at Claro Perú, highlighted that the network not only connects infrastructure and systems but also enables new operational models for mining, integrating people, processes, and technology from a single platform. These safety and efficiency gains are consistent with outcomes observed in other industrial private network deployments, including agriculture operations in West Sussex and tactical military communications in Spain.
Industry Context and Strategic Significance
The deployment at Toromocho represents the first private 5G network implemented by Claro empresas in Peru designed specifically to support autonomous mining systems, marking a milestone for both the vendor and the broader mining industry in the country. The project positions Peru at the forefront of global mining technology adoption, demonstrating the practical application of 5G connectivity in one of the country’s most important economic sectors. Mining operations in Peru face unique challenges related to terrain, altitude, and environmental conditions, making the deployment a test case for the resilience and performance of private cellular networks in demanding industrial environments.
The collaboration between Claro empresas, Huawei, and Minera Chinalco Perú illustrates the multi-vendor ecosystem required to deliver private network solutions in complex industrial settings. Claro empresas brings telecommunications expertise and local market knowledge, while Huawei provides the underlying radio and core network infrastructure. Chinalco Perú contributes deep domain expertise in mining operations and a clear vision for digital transformation. This partnership model is increasingly common in private network deployments, where successful outcomes depend on the integration of connectivity platforms with industry-specific applications and operational processes. Similar vendor collaborations have underpinned recent deployments in UK defense and manufacturing digital twin applications.
Scalability and Future Expansion
The private 5G network architecture deployed at Toromocho is designed to accommodate future expansion and the addition of new use cases as Chinalco Perú’s digital transformation strategy evolves. The scalable design allows for the integration of additional sensors, autonomous vehicles, and data-intensive applications without requiring a fundamental redesign of the network. Potential future applications include the deployment of autonomous haul trucks, advanced analytics for ore grade optimization, and augmented reality tools for remote maintenance and training.
The network’s ability to support progressive incorporation of new technologies is a key factor in its strategic value. As Chinalco Perú gains operational experience with the current deployment, the company can identify additional opportunities to leverage the network’s capabilities, driving continuous improvement in productivity, safety, and environmental performance. The success of the Toromocho deployment may also serve as a catalyst for broader adoption of private 5G networks in the Peruvian mining sector, providing a reference architecture and business case for other operators considering similar investments.
| [We are committed to evolving toward a more digital and efficient operation without losing sight of what is essential: the safety, well-being, and development of our employees. The GIO Center embodies this vision of the future, made possible by Claro Empresas’ 5G Private Network.] Willy Coronado, Gerente de TICA, Minera Chinalco Perú (Translated from original quote) |
| [Claro Empresas’ 5G Private Network not only connects infrastructure and systems but also enables new operating models for the mining industry. The Chinalco Peru case demonstrates how robust industrial connectivity allows for the integration of people, processes, and technology on a single platform, laying the groundwork for Claro Empresas to foster the adoption of remote and autonomous operations within the sector.] Mariano Orihuela, Director de Mercado Corporativo, Claro Perú (Translated from original quote) |
| [5G connectivity, integrated with cloud services and artificial intelligence algorithms, enables reduced response times and improved operational safety, significantly increasing productivity.] Henry Puca, Director, Unidad de Minería, Huawei Perú (Translated from original quote) |
| [This project consolidates our innovation and digital transformation strategy. The integration of disruptive technologies, together with 5G infrastructure, positions us as leaders in smart mining.] Willy Coronado, Gerente de Tecnología de la Información, Comunicaciones y Automatización (TICA), Minera Chinalco Perú (Translated from original quote) |
| KEY INSIGHT Minera Chinalco Perú’s deployment demonstrates that private 5G networks can support mission-critical remote mining operations over distances exceeding 150 kilometers, reducing worker exposure to hazardous environments while maintaining operational continuity and enabling progressive automation of complex industrial processes. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What mining operations does Minera Chinalco Perú’s private 5G network support?
The network supports autonomous drilling, real-time fleet management, teleoperation of heavy equipment, video surveillance, sensor integration, and Mission Critical Push-to-Talk communications at the Toromocho mining unit in Junín, Peru.
Q2: How far is the remote operations center from the Toromocho mine site?
The Sala de Estaciones de Teleoperación remote control center is located in Lima, more than 150 kilometers from the Toromocho mining unit, connected via the private 5G network infrastructure.
Q3: Which vendors are involved in the Chinalco Perú private 5G deployment?
Claro empresas serves as the network integrator and operator, while Huawei provides the radio access and core network infrastructure. Minera Chinalco Perú operates the Centro GIO management platform.
Q4: What is the Centro GIO and how does it use the private network?
Centro GIO is Chinalco’s Gestión Integrada de Operaciones platform, which uses the 5G network to centralize real-time data from mine operations, plant processes, maintenance systems, and logistics for coordinated decision-making.
Q5: What are the key safety benefits of the private 5G network?
The network enables remote operation of equipment from Lima, reducing worker exposure to high-altitude conditions, rockfalls, and equipment hazards. It also supports prioritized critical communications and real-time monitoring of environmental risks.
Q6: Is this the first private 5G mining network in Peru?
Yes, this is the first private 5G network implemented by Claro empresas in Peru specifically designed to support autonomous mining systems, marking a significant milestone for the country’s mining sector.
