As Africa continues to expand its power and telecommunications infrastructure, the integration of efficient, high-performance systems is vital to support the continent’s economic growth and development. Uni-Cable’s Optical Fiber Composite Ground Wire (OPGW) has played a transformative role in several projects across Africa, combining power transmission and high-speed communication in one solution. With its innovative design, OPGW allows for the protection and grounding of overhead power lines while providing an efficient fiber-optic communication channel along the same infrastructure.

Enhancing Power and Data Transmission in West Africa

Customer Challenge: A major power utility company in West Africa was tasked with expanding the national power grid while simultaneously upgrading the country's communication infrastructure. The utility faced logistical and financial challenges in installing separate transmission lines for power and fiber-optic communication over a vast rural area. The region’s terrain, including dense forests and rivers, made it difficult to deploy traditional communication cables alongside high-voltage power lines.
Uni-Cable Solution: Uni-Cable’s OPGW provided the ideal solution by integrating both power grounding and high-speed communication capabilities into a single wire. The OPGW was installed along the utility’s high-voltage transmission towers, eliminating the need for separate communication infrastructure. Uni-Cable’s team of engineers worked closely with the project team to ensure that the OPGW met the region’s demanding environmental and operational requirements, including high tensile strength to withstand the forces of wind and mechanical stress from the terrain.
Benefits Achieved: The installation of Uni-Cable’s OPGW drastically reduced project costs and streamlined the grid expansion. The utility company was able to complete both the power transmission and communication infrastructure in one operation, saving time and resources. Furthermore, the integration of fiber-optic communication within the power lines enabled real-time monitoring and control of the grid, enhancing overall grid reliability and reducing maintenance costs.

The Role of OPGW in African Infrastructure
Africa’s fast-growing population and economies require extensive development of both power transmission and communication networks. Traditionally, these systems were built separately, with power lines and fiber-optic cables requiring independent infrastructures. Uni-Cable’s OPGW has revolutionized this process by combining the functions of ground wires for power lines with integrated fiber-optic cables, streamlining the installation and reducing costs. This dual functionality is especially crucial in remote areas, where laying separate power and communication lines would be cost-prohibitive and logistically challenging.

Uni-Cable’s OPGW provides the perfect solution for power utility companies and telecom operators seeking to integrate reliable, high-speed data communication with their electrical transmission networks.

Product Quality Certification: Uni-Cable’s Commitment to Excellence
Uni-Cable’s OPGW is manufactured to the highest international standards, ensuring optimal performance in both power transmission and communication applications. The company’s commitment to quality is evident in its certifications and rigorous testing processes, which guarantee that its products meet the most demanding industry requirements.

ISO 9001:2015 Certification: Uni-Cable operates under ISO 9001:2015 quality management standards, ensuring that its OPGW products are manufactured with the highest level of precision and quality control. This certification underscores Uni-Cable’s dedication to producing reliable and durable products that meet the exacting standards of power and communication projects worldwide.

IEC 60794 and IEEE 1138 Compliance: Uni-Cable’s OPGW products comply with both IEC 60794 (optical fiber cables) and IEEE 1138 (composite overhead ground wires), which are the internationally recognized standards for mechanical, environmental, and electrical performance. These standards ensure that Uni-Cable’s OPGW provides reliable optical fiber communication while maintaining the necessary strength and durability for use in high-voltage transmission lines.

This comprehensive success story showcases how Uni-Cable’s OPGW has solved critical challenges in power and communication projects across Africa, highlighting customer experiences, project outcomes, and the company’s commitment to product quality and certification.