Polymetal Deploys Private Communications Network at Far Eastern Mine
The project was implemented using equipment from NOTA Group
Private corporate communications networks are being deployed across Russia at a growing pace. Mining companies are among the main drivers of this trend, as their operations are often located in hard-to-reach areas. Private networks not only enable more effective communication among employees but also support the deployment of digital tools.
New Network Expands Automation
NOTA Group built a private LTE network for open-pit mining at Polymetal’s Talgiy deposit in Khabarovsk Krai. The network is designed specifically to expand production automation. It brings all mining equipment into a single network environment, helping improve equipment performance and operational efficiency.
Using the new infrastructure, Polymetal engineers deployed Polina, an automated dispatch system for open-pit mining operations. It enables continuous data exchange between equipment and dispatch services, significantly improving the efficiency of operations across the site.
“For mining companies, private LTE is no longer just a communications network, but a foundational technology layer for industrial digitalization. For the Talgiy project, our task was to build a resilient 4G mobile production network capable of operating in an open-pit mine and evolving along with the production site,” said Ilya Kravtsov, director of strategic development at NOTA Group.
Flexible Configuration
All equipment installed at the mine was manufactured directly by NOTA Group. It includes one fixed and two mobile base stations, as well as a network core with hot redundancy. The main station is mounted on a 32-meter mast, allowing it to maintain stable signal quality even across challenging terrain. The mobile units will allow the network perimeter to be adjusted as mining equipment advances across the site.
Alexey Lapshin, head of automation and digital technologies at Polymetal, said the construction of the pLTE network marked the first stage in developing a larger digital infrastructure project at the Talgiy deposit. “Having a pLTE network gives us an opportunity to continue deploying additional sovereign digital platforms and services, improving safety and efficiency at our operation,” he said.
Not the First Project
This is notably not the first project implemented by Polymetal and NOTA Group. Similar work was previously carried out at the Prognoz-Serebro site in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). There, the companies also built a pLTE network to support an industrial automation system, strengthen safety monitoring, dispatch mining equipment and make production metrics more objective.
In addition, in June 2026, Beeline announced the creation of a pLTE/5G-ready network for Polymetal at the Vedugin mine in Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Private LTE Becomes the Standard
The number of private communications networks at Russian industrial sites continues to grow. According to ComNews Research, Russia had 102 commercial Private LTE networks by November 2025. More than 70 additional projects were operating as pilots. Mining companies were the largest user group, accounting for about 40 deployed networks.
Virtually all major telecom operators are showing interest in building private networks for industrial customers. In 2023, for example, MTS deployed a dedicated LTE network at the Mezhdurechye coal mine in Kemerovo Region. The infrastructure included 14 macro sites providing reliable, high-speed radio coverage, an Evolved Packet Core from NTTC Protei, and Push-to-Talk industrial group radio systems. The network provided connectivity and telemetry services simultaneously to more than 800 people and about 500 pieces of mining equipment.
It is now fair to say that Russia is developing a mature industrial Private LTE market. The deployment of dedicated networks is becoming a systematic process rather than a series of one-off projects. Russian-made equipment is also being used to build these networks, allowing the sector to develop with greater independence from foreign suppliers.
