The public sector company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the country’s first 5G Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) in the refinery sector.
The MoU was formalized during the “Industry 4.0 Workshop for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)” held in Guwahati on August 2, under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
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The high-level workshop brought together key stakeholders including the Secretary, DPE; CMD and MD of NRL; Director (Enterprise Business) BSNL; MD AMTRON; and officials from across the CPSE ecosystem.
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The aim: to encourage and equip public sector industries to embrace cutting-edge technologies—5G CNPN, Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR), Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data Analytics.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the development in a post on X calling it a “proud moment for Assam.”
He wrote: “@BSNLCorporate & @NRL_MoPNG have signed an MoU to set up India’s 1st 5G Captive Non-Public Network in the refinery sector. A big leap for #DigitalAssam & #AtmanirbharBharat—ushering IoT, AR/VR, Big Data into our industrial future!”
The collaboration is poised to be a game-changer in enhancing refinery operations through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, process automation, and immersive workforce training using AR/VR tools.
The dedicated 5G CNPN promises high speed, ultra-low latency, and secure connectivity—critical for mission-oriented industrial environments.
CMD NRL emphasized that the project will not only boost operational efficiency and cybersecurity, but also build a foundation for technologies like Digital Twins and AI-driven analytics to be embedded in refinery operations. This, he said, could lead to enhanced skilling, safer workplaces, and improved environmental sustainability.
BSNL CMD A. Robert J. Ravi described the initiative as “a technological leap forward—not only in connectivity but in redefining how core industries can operate in a digitally intelligent Bharat.”
The Secretary, DPE, commended the initiative as an ideal example of the Government’s “Whole of Government Approach” to modernization, digital empowerment, and regional development. The project is expected to generate employment, promote advanced skilling in frontier technologies, and serve as a replicable model for other sectors.
This MoU also aligns with the national goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Digital India, as it showcases the capability of CPSEs to drive innovation from within and make India a hub of Industry 4.0.
With its rollout beginning in Assam, the collaboration could soon set the standard for digital industrialization across the Northeast and the nation at large.
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