OPGW cable is a dual-functioning cable designed to replace traditional overhead ground wires on transmission lines, providing fiber optics for telecommunications alongside electrical grounding capabilities. It contains optical fibers protected inside an aluminum or steel casing to withstand mechanical stresses from wind and faults. Various OPGW cable types include those with aluminum clad stainless steel tubes, stranded tubes, or central tubes to house fiber counts up to 48. Benefits include communication pathways with high reliability alongside electrical grounding functions. OPGW cable is used on power lines and telecom networks for voice, video, data and SCADA.

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In today’
s high-tech world, with a strong dependence on robust and high-reliability telecommunications
infrastructure, new technologies have emerged to support easy and efficient growth now and in the
future. One of these advances in technology is optical ground wire (OPGW).This cable is designed to be
installed on transmission and distribution lines, and the fibers are protected from environmental
conditions (lightning, short circuit, loading) to ensure reliability and longevity. This article can help you
learn more about OPGW cable.
What is OPGW Cable?
OPGW, also known as optical fiber composite overhead ground wire is a dual-functioning cable. It
is designed to replace traditional static/shield/earth wires on overhead transmission lines with the
added benefit of containing optical fibers which can be used for telecommunications

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purposes.OPGW must be capable of withstanding the mechanical stresses applied to overhead
cables by environmental factors such as wind and ice. OPGW must also be capable of handling
electrical faults on the transmission line by providing a path to ground without damaging the
sensitive optical fibers inside the cable.
OPGW Cable Types
The OPGW cable design is constructed of a fiber optic core (with multiple sub-units depending on
the fiber count) encased in a hermetically sealed hardened aluminum pipe with a covering of one
or more layers of steel and/or alloy wires. OPGW cable types include:
 ACS (Aluminum clad stainless steel tube) OPGW cable is preferred for its central aluminum
clad stainless steel tube and color-coded optic fibers which simplify the splicing process while
providing optimum fiber protection as well as long term product reliability.

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 Stranded tubes OPGW cable use fiber-bearing stainless steel tubes stranded alongside
aluminum clad steel and/or aluminum alloy wires to create a multi-layer cable design suitable
for a variety of environmental and geographical conditions, and to allow for higher fiber
counts.
 Central tube OPGW cable is preferred for its compact size and ability to house up to Fiber
counts up to 48 in same diameter product. The central stainless steel tube covered with a
layer(s) of aluminum clad steel and/or alloy wires, this condensed design offers a more robust
configuration than those options with only a bare stainless steel tube covered by wires.

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 ACP (Aluminum clad PBT) OPGW cable is preferred for its central aluminum pipe and
color-coded fiber optic buffer tubes which simplify the splicing process while providing
optimum fiber protection as well as long term product reliability.
Benefits
OPGW cables provide all of the benefits of a traditional shield wire, such as providing short circuits
a path to ground and protecting the circuits from lightning strikes, and good compactness, in
addition to providing an optical pathway for communication, highly stable, high reliability, high
tensile strength, high communication quality, low cost, low transmission signal loss,
anti-electromagnetic interference, not easy to be stolen and cut, and not easy to be destructively

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attacked.
Applications
OPGW cable is used in the electric utility industry, transmission and distribution of power lines
( i.e., 500KV, 220KV, 110KV voltage grade lines), voice, video, data transmission, SCADA networks,
ariel ground wires, and dark fiber leasing.
Conclusion
OPGW cable maintains all the performance of the overhead ground wire and also opens up for
fiber communication network without adding another hanging line.The OPGW has remarkable
benefits such as high reliability, superior mechanical performance, and low cost. Sun Telecom
provides all OPGW cable products and solutions to the global market.