ZTE and China Baowu Masteel have deployed two autonomous open-pit mining trucks connected to Multi-access edge computing (MEC) servers - decentralised network computing technology - at Baowu subsidiary Baosteel's Nanshan openpit iron ore mine.

The autonomous project uses 5G low-latency technology in an automated dispatch system, in a coordinated loading and unloading system, and an emergency takeover system.

It has also involves trials of integrated drone inspections, virtual reality surveys, and high-definition wireless video surveillance, reported local media Anhui Daily.

In 2019, ZTE rival Huawei trialled the use of a 5G enabled remote-controlled excavator at a molybdenum mine in Henan province.