Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) is the primary electricity transmission and distribution utility in Kenya, serving over 7 million customers. KPLC is focused on upgrading its transmission network to support growing urban demand and rural electrification.
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) is Ethiopia’s national power utility responsible for generation and transmission operations. EEP is actively expanding its high-voltage grid to support industrial development and integrate renewable energy projects.
Project Background and Challenges
Both KPLC and EEP faced increasing demand for secure, high-speed communication along critical high-voltage transmission corridors. Integration of advanced SCADA and teleprotection systems required reliable optical fiber communication embedded within the ground wire to reduce infrastructure costs and enhance resilience.
The utilities required Optical Fiber Composite Ground Wire (OPGW) with:
High mechanical strength for overhead use as earth wire
Multiple optical fibers for communication redundancy
Corrosion resistance in diverse climates (tropical Kenya, highland Ethiopia)
Compliance with international quality standards
Uni-Cable OPGW Product Supplied:
Model: Uni-Cable OPGW-24F (24 optical fibers) and OPGW-48F (48 optical fibers)
Core Structure: Central tube with single-mode optical fibers, surrounded by high-strength aluminum-clad steel wires
Diameter: 20.5 mm to 26.5 mm, depending on fiber count
Breaking Strength: Minimum 15 kN – 30 kN depending on size
Optical Fiber Type: ITU-T G.652D compliant single-mode fibers
Standards: IEC 60794-5-10, IEC 61089, IEEE 1138, ASTM B496
Product link: https://cable-uni.com/products/bare-conductor/opgw-optical-fiber-composite-ground-wire.html
Project Scope:
Kenya KPLC: 100 km of 220kV transmission lines fitted with OPGW-24F for integrated earth and communication system
Ethiopia EEP: 150 km of 400kV new transmission corridors installed with OPGW-48F to enable future-proof communication networks
Technical Solutions Provided:
Customized OPGW design to withstand line tension, wind, and ice loading conditions specific to regional environments
Optical fiber testing prior to shipment: insertion loss < 0.3 dB/km, reflectance > 55 dB
Integrated grounding and lightning protection per IEC standards
Delivery of associated hardware including suspension clamps, vibration dampers, and grounding kits matching OPGW specifications
Quality Assurance and Testing:
Full mechanical tensile testing and elongation verification
Optical fiber attenuation and bandwidth tests per ITU-T standards
Environmental corrosion resistance tests for coastal and highland conditions
Factory certification: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001
Comprehensive test reports provided with each shipment
Export Packaging and Logistics:
Heavy-duty steel drums with moisture-proof sealing and shock absorption for fibers
Custom crates for accessory hardware to prevent damage
Coordinated export clearance and inland transport to project sites
Complete turnkey solution — conductors and OPGW with matching accessories from one supplier
Proven fiber quality and durability in African transmission environments
Factory direct pricing and flexible shipment schedules
Technical support for installation and commissioning
Experience exporting to East Africa with smooth customs clearance and local logistics
The integration of Uni-Cable’s OPGW into Kenya and Ethiopia’s transmission grids enabled enhanced communication reliability for control and monitoring systems, reduced the need for separate communication infrastructure, and improved overall system resilience. This partnership supports both countries’ efforts to modernize their power grids and expand electricity access sustainably.
