Industrial IT and connectivity solutions provider Sedna Africa has secured a landmark contract with Beira Terminal operator Cornelder de Moçambique to deploy a Nokia private mobile network at the Port of Beira, in Mozambique. The company states that the project will significantly enhance safety, productivity and operational efficiency at one of the region’s most critical transport hubs.

Africa’s ageing infrastructure cannot meet the demands of modern industrial use cases, particularly when it comes to connectivity. Almost every major port on the continent operates on narrow-band technologies with limited data throughput, which hampers their digital transformation efforts, says Sedna Africa MD Anton Fester.

However, mobile private networks deliver reliable, high-throughput connectivity that is mission-critical for safety, automation and productivity at ports and mines, and other heavy industries, he adds.

“Improved port infrastructure and efficiency will attract more trade, boosting economic growth, and enhanced capabilities will support industries, create jobs and generate revenue.

“Modernising, digitising and focusing on safety and automation are critical components to ensure the port is future-fit,” he says.

The Port of Beira is a critical maritime facility for Mozambique and Southern Africa. The planned infrastructure and improvement projects at the port aim to significantly enhance its efficiency, capacity and operational capabilities, says maritime logistics and port company Cornelder MD Jan de Vries.

Meanwhile, this deployment sees Sedna expand beyond mining into other heavy industry sectors, such as ports, manufacturing and oil and gas. This follows the structural changes undertaken in 2024 and renewed focus on growth across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Sedna Africa has worked with Nokia over the years to assist in solution design and identification of device ecosystems, applying its in-house design and manufacturing capabilities to ensure that dependable networks can be deployed beyond fixed infrastructure limitations, and providing professional services including continuous support to customers.

Nokia has already deployed more than 65 private wireless mining networks with over 35 customers worldwide, among them Sedna's installation of Africa’s first licensed spectrum private long-term evolution (LTE) network in South Africa, as well as Africa’s first underground leaky feeder licensed spectrum private LTE network enabling production automation.

The Port of Beira project is on track for deployment, reinforcing Sedna’s strategic intent to support any production-heavy environment where safety helmets and hard hats are standard and where technology can drive operational excellence, says Fester.

“We’re using the knowledge, skills and experience honed in mining to tackle infrastructure bottlenecks across Africa,” he says.

The company's expanded offering includes mobile private networks, operational technology governance, enabling communication layers, and distributed fibre sensing to help industries better manage risks, monitor conditions and avoid costly breakdowns.

“Recent trials in advanced fibre-optic sensing technology, embedded within conveyor systems, have demonstrated the ability to detect wear, failures and fires, thereby enhancing preventive maintenance and safety. The technology can directly boost condition monitoring and risk management at the port,” Fester says.

“Besides the Internet of Things, Africa needs an Internet of People, which can be achieved by connecting not just assets, but communities. Every project contributes to a connected, more inclusive future for Africans,” he says.