Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) has signed an agreement with state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to deploy India’s first 5G Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) in the refinery sector.

The announcement was welcomed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who described it as a proud moment for the state. “@BSNLCorporate & @NRL_MoPNG have signed an MoU to set up India’s 1st 5G Captive Non-Public Network in the refinery sector. A big leap for #DigitalAssam & #AtmanirbharBharat—ushering IoT, AR/VR, Big Data into our industrial future,” he said in a post on X.

BSNL’s Chairman and Managing Director, Robert J Ravi, said the partnership showcases the telecom provider’s dedication to enabling strategic sectors with cutting-edge digital infrastructure.

“The deployment of a dedicated 5G CNPN at NRL is not just about faster connectivity—it reimagines how industries will function going forward. As India’s trusted public telecom operator, BSNL is honoured to lead this step toward a self-reliant and digitally advanced Bharat,” he said.

An NRL official noted that the 5G CNPN integration will significantly boost operational efficiency, enhance cybersecurity, and support advanced technologies such as augmented and virtual reality-based training, digital twin simulations, and real-time Internet of Things (IoT) applications.