Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deploy India’s first 5G Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) in the refinery sector, marking a major step towards industrial digital transformation.The MoU was inked during the “Industry 4.0 Workshop for CPSEs” held under the aegis of the ministry of finance in Guwahati. As per news agency ANI, the event saw participation from key officials, including the secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), CMD of NRL, director (Enterprise Business) of BSNL, MD of AMTRON, and senior officials from various Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).Under the agreement, BSNL and NRL will collaborate on implementing a secure, ultra-reliable, and real-time 5G CNPN using indigenous infrastructure to support mission-critical operations. The move is expected to enhance operational efficiency and drive innovation through the adoption of cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies like IoT, Digital Twins, AI-based 3D printing, AR/VR/MR, and Big Data Analytics.CMD of NRL said the 5G CNPN deployment would be a “game-changing moment” for India’s refinery sector, enabling advanced tools such as real-time IoT, AR/VR-based training, and virtual formulation, as per ANI.BSNL CMD A Robert J Ravi described the partnership as a technological leap forward. “This collaboration exemplifies BSNL’s commitment to empowering India’s strategic sectors with next-generation digital infrastructure,” he said. “The dedicated 5G CNPN deployment at NRL will redefine core industry operations and support a self-reliant, digitally intelligent Bharat.”Papa Sudhakara Rao, BSNL director (Enterprise Business), said the collaboration marks a “historic milestone” in accelerating 5G and Industry 4.0 adoption across the industrial ecosystem, as per news agency PTI.BSNL, which has begun rolling out 4G, possesses spectrum that can be used for 5G and aims to leverage it for the CNPN initiative.The secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises praised the project as an embodiment of the government’s “Whole of Government” (WoG) approach. He emphasised that such partnerships can promote skill development, create jobs, and foster industrial modernisation — particularly in the North East.The BSNL-NRL initiative is expected to serve as a replicable model for other industrial sectors, aligning with the government’s vision of a digitally empowered and self-reliant India.
