Objective Optical cables associated to overhead lines (OHL) have become the main medium to support the telecommunications needs of High Voltage (HV) power utilities (Operation, Protections, Installation, Maintenance etc.). The aim of this Technical Brochure (TB) is to produce practical guidelines based on the experience of different power utilities in the design and the deployment of high voltage line optical cables and their further maintenance, with examples and best practice cases. It is not intended to be a normative document nor exhaustive in the presented approaches. The document, which is focused on Optical Ground Wires (OPGW) and on Optical Phase Conductors (OPPC), is the result of a Joint Working Group which combines the two areas of knowledge involved in optical cables associated to overhead transmission lines:  Information systems and Telecommunication (D2)  Overhead lines (B2)

1. Main topics
The document is divided in different chapters, which
cover topics such as:
 Technology Overview
 Design
 Deployment & Commissioning
 Maintenance and Survey
The main features of each chapter are summarized
as follows.
Technology Overview
Various types of fibre optic cable have been
developed over the last 30 years in order to meet the
needs of utilities. These include metallic cables such
as OPGW (Optical Ground Wire), OPPC (Optical
Phase Conductor) and MASS (Metallic Aerial Self
Supporting). In addition there are dielectric cables
such as ADSS (All Dielectric Self Supporting), wrap
and other optically attached cables.
OPGW and OPPC serve as a direct replacements
for the conductor or ground wire, with the addition of
fibres contained within tubes or other guides. Various
different constructions of cable have been developed
and some details are included in the document.
An overview of the technology behind fibre optic
transmission is also included as well as a comparison
of the various types fibre optic cable solutions deployed
by different utilities. •••
Objective
Optical cables associated to overhead lines (OHL)
have become the main medium to support the
telecommunications needs of High Voltage (HV)
power utilities (Operation, Protections, Installation,
Maintenance etc.).
The aim of this Technical Brochure (TB) is to
produce practical guidelines based on the experience
of different power utilities in the design and the
deployment of high voltage line optical cables and their
further maintenance, with examples and best practice
cases. It is not intended to be a normative document
nor exhaustive in the presented approaches.
The document, which is focused on Optical Ground
Wires (OPGW) and on Optical Phase Conductors
(OPPC), is the result of a Joint Working Group which
combines the two areas of knowledge involved in
optical cables associated to overhead transmission
lines:
 Information systems and Telecommunication
(D2)
 Overhead lines (B2)
Value
This document provides in a clear way to experts and
non-experts a complete and updated view of both
OPGW and OPPC cables’ practical knowledge and
lifecycle.
Members
S. KWIK ALLAN, Convenor (ES), B. BULFIN, Secretary (IE), M. NAYLOR (GB),
C. DIMNIK (CA), K. KICZKAJŁO (PL), K. DE VRIES (SE), J. DARNÉ MONAR (ES),
T. SCHEHADE (CA)
Corresponding Members
D. KHOMARLOU (CA), R. FERNANDEZ (AU), L. RASMUSSEN (DK ),
S. LÁZARO ALONSO (ES), P. BENNETT (UK), T. LECOMTE (FR), C. WINTER (DE)
Design, deployment and maintenance
of optical cables associated
to overhead transmission lines
746JWG D2/B2.39
technical brochure
No. 302 - February 2019 ELECTRA 57

2. 746JWG D2/B2.39
technical brochure
Maintenance
The maintenance chapter describes where the
technology stands today together with different
methods to conduct maintenance along with their
advantages and disadvantages. The maintenance
process is divided into; Preventive/Routine
Maintenance, Corrective Maintenance, Emergency
repair and Predictive Maintenance. Lessons learned
are also presented.
The document highlights the importance of the
handover from project to maintenance process. It is
also addressing the impacts of the total cost over the
lifespan. A slightly higher installation cost could lead
to significantly lower costs for maintenance, therefore
giving a lower total lifecycle cost.
Network Monitoring is essential for maintenance and
the principle for Remote Monitoring Systems along
with other methods to monitor the status of the optical
network are described.
A process for Telecommunications Restoring in
an event of the need for an emergency repair is
described along with different methods to restore fibre
communication. Considerations on spare parts and
their storage are given in the chapter.
The chapter also provides three maintenance case
studies.
Survey
The document also includes the feedback of a survey
which was sent out to gather information around the
world. The survey consisted of more than 60 questions,
aiming to learn how different companies from different
countries design, deploy and maintain OPGW/OPPC
technologies. 
Design
The document illustrates how the need for an OPGW/
OPPC cable is initiated and processed. An OPGW or
OPPC project is initiated by a need, and becomes a joint
planning effort between the utility different departments
and areas of expertise (e.g. the Asset Department,
the Lines Department and the Telecommunications
Department). Telecommunications may be looking
for a fibre link on a new line on the network or a
retrofit on an existing line; or taking advantage of the
economics of a scheduled new or retrofit line to add a
telecommunication capability for future use.
The Design chapter also shapes an example of the
project workflow for an OPGW or an OPPC from both,
the utility and the supplier’s perspective.
An overview of the configuration for existing cables
designs and their updates is also presented in
the document. The designs can be varied as the
expectations can depend on local or particular
country adaptations. In general, optical, electrical,
mechanical and environmental design characteristics
must be considered in order to satisfy the necessary
requirements for functionality and reliability.
In order to verify that the cable is able to meet the
functional and reliability requirements, industry
standards are introduced. They establish minimum
criteria that must be met for an OPGW cable
design to be qualified and accepted for use. The
standards may cover various stages within an OPGW
project, for example Type Testing, Routine, Factory
Acceptance Testing or Commission Testing. Type
Tests in particular may be conducted to validate
the performance of a designed cable, and may be
performed on the cable, the hardware, and the cable
and hardware as a system.
Other involved parties necessities, such as fibre
costumers may also be considered in this design
phase.
Deployment & Commissioning
The document covers various stages of the
deployment part of the project, including preparatory
works, permits/approvals, construction works and
commissioning works.
Generic installation techniques and supervision
requirements are also described.
Special attention is put on the fact that OPGW/OPPC
are optical cables which have specific installation
requirements which may differ from standard ground
wires or conductors.
BROCHURE N° 746
(en anglais seulement)
(in English only)
Disponible sur / Available on:
www.e-cigre.org
Prix non-Membres / Non-Member Price:
310 €
Purchase (non-members)
Free download (members)
No. 302 - February 2019 ELECTRA 59