BSNL-NRL Pact to Drive Industry 4.0 in India
Guwahati: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) touted as a significant step toward advancing India’s digital transformation and industrial modernisation.
The agreement, formalised during the “Industry 4.0 Workshop for Central Public Sector Enterprises” hosted by the Ministry of Finance in Guwahati on August 2, 2025, aims to deploy India’s first 5G Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) in the refinery sector, setting a precedent for secure and advanced industrial connectivity.
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited-Numaligarh Refinery Limited collaboration will leverage indigenous 5G infrastructure to enable secure, ultra-reliable, and real-time connectivity for mission-critical operations at Numaligarh Refinery Limited. This initiative is expected to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity, and support advanced technologies such as Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality-based training, Digital Twins, and real-time Internet of Things applications.
The Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises commended the partnership as a model of the government’s “Whole of Government” (WoG) approach, highlighting its potential to modernise India’s industrial landscape, promote advanced skilling, and create job opportunities, particularly in the North Eastern Region.
The Chairman and Managing Director of Numaligarh Refinery Limited emphasised that the 5G Captive Non-Public Network integration represents a transformative moment for the refinery sector, enabling cutting-edge technologies and improving operational capabilities.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Chairman and Managing Director A. Robert J. Ravi underscored the partnership’s role in reinforcing Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s commitment to building next-generation digital infrastructure for India’s strategic sectors. “This collaboration marks a technological leap forward, redefining how core industries operate,” he stated, emphasizing Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s role in fostering a digitally intelligent and self-reliant India.
The Director (Enterprise Business) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited described the Memorandum of Understanding as a historic milestone in adopting 5G and Industry 4.0 technologies within India’s industrial ecosystem, reaffirming Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s dedication to supporting the Digital India initiative with secure and future-ready communication solutions.
The workshop, attended by key figures including the Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, the Director (Enterprise Business) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, the Managing Director (MD) of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, the Managing Director of Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited (AMTRON), and other senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and various Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), focused on integrating transformative Industry 4.0 technologies. These include 5G Captive Non-Public Network, Digital Twins, 3D Printing with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Formulation, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality/Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR), Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data Analytics, aimed at boosting innovation, efficiency, and self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The partnership is poised to serve as a replicable model for other industrial sectors, aligning with the Government of India’s vision for a digitally empowered and self-reliant nation.
– global bihari bureau
