Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the "Industry 4.0 Workshop for CPSEs" organized by the Ministry of Finance in Guwahati to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and industrial modernization.

Several senior dignitaries attended the session, including the Secretary of Public Enterprises (DPE), CMD NRL, Director (Enterprise Business) BSNL, MD NRL, MD AMTRON, and other top officials from the Ministry of Finance and several CPSEs. The agenda of the session focused on strengthening Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to leverage transformative Industry 4.0 technologies, such as 5G CNPN, Digital Twins, 3D Printing with AI, Virtual Formulation, AR/VR/MR, IoT, and Big Data Analytics, to foster innovation, efficiency, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

India's First 5G CNPN in the Refinery Sector

Under this MoU, BSNL and NRL will work together to build India's first 5G CNPN (Captive Non-Public Network) for the refinery sector, ushering in a new age of secure, ultra-reliable, and real-time industrial connectivity. This program is a pioneering step toward using indigenous 5G infrastructure for mission-critical operations.

Whole of Government Approach

The Secretary of DPE lauded the project as a shining example of the Government's "Whole of Government" (WoG) strategy, emphasizing its potential to modernize India's industrial base, promote advanced skilling, and create job opportunities, particularly in the North-Eastern Region.

Industry 4.0 Technologies to Transform CPSEs

The partnership is looking forward to entitling CPSEs with a bouquet of transformative technologies to boost operational efficiency, enhance safety, and support predictive maintenance in highly complex environments like refineries.

They are:

• Digital Twins – digital model of an intended or actual real-world physical product, system, or process (a physical twin). For e.g. Google Maps
• AR/VR/MR (Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality – immersive environments for advanced training and operational simulations
• 3D Printing with AI – integrating this to enhance and improve every aspect of the 3D printing process, from ideation to quality control and a better design optimization.
• IoT (Internet of Things) – interconnected sensors and devices for real-time data collection and automation
• Big Data Analytics – advanced data processing to derive actionable insights

According to Dr. Ranjit Rath, CMD, NRL, the integration of 5G CNPN will improve operational efficiency and cybersecurity while also empowering disruptive technologies AR/VR-based training, Digital Twins, and real-time IoT applications. For him, this stands as a game-changer for India’s refinery sector.

Edited excerpts from Shri A. Robert J. Ravi, CMD, BSNL

“This partnership exemplifies BSNL’s commitment to empowering India’s strategic sectors with next-generation digital infrastructure. The deployment of a dedicated 5G CNPN at NRL will mark a technological leap forward—not only in connectivity but in redefining how core industries can operate in the future. As a trusted public telecom provider, BSNL is proud to pioneer this journey toward a self-reliant, digitally intelligent Bharat.”

He also added that this collaboration is a ‘quantum leap’ in the deployment of 5G and Industry 4.0 for India’s industrial ecosystem. He emphasized BSNL's commitment to assisting Digital India by providing safe, robust, and future-ready communication infrastructure to CPSEs and corporations.
This partnership between BSNL and NRL is intended to set the foundation for replicable models in other industrial sectors, confirming the Government of India's aim for a digitally empowered and self-reliant Bharat. (Source: PIB)