Enhance your Overhead Ground Wire and Phase Conductor production
with NBG's Fiber in Metal Tubes

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FIMT for
for OPGW / OPPC

Our range of FIMT for Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) and Optical Phase Conductor (OPPC) solutions are engineered for robust and efficient performance in power transmission systems. OPGW products, designed to replace traditional ground wires of overhead power lines, simultaneously perform the functions of grounding and communications.

They are particularly effective in enhancing the reliability of power grids while providing a high-speed communication channel. Our OPPC offerings, integrating optical fibers within the phase conductors of power lines, are ideal for smart grid applications. They enable real-time monitoring and communication without the need for additional cable systems. Both OPGW and OPPC solutions are made with high-quality materials and advanced manufacturing techniques, ensuring durability, excellent environmental resistance, and superior data transmission capabilities.

These products are tailored to meet the demanding requirements of modern power infrastructure, ensuring seamless integration and long-term performance.

Core Functionalities

FIMT diameter from 1.1 to 7.0mm

Options to add aluminum in thin or thick wall

Precise Excess Fiber Length (EFL)

Single lengths up to 50km

Up to 192 fibers

Precise laser weded tube

Longitudinal water thightness

Full sensing capabilities for temperature, acoustics and strain

Products for OPGW / OPPC

Our products for OPGW / OPPC manufactured to customer specifications.
Below are just a few examples to demonstrate our production capabilities.

Single layer FIMT

Fiber in Metal Tube, made from stainless steel or nickel alloy, for data transmission and sensing purposes. Fiber configuration and fiber count freely chooseable: SMF and/or MMF, 1 to 192 fibers. Gel filling for longitudinal water tightness.

FIMT with thin wall alu layer

Fiber in Metal Tube with a thin wall alu cladding in 0.25 or 0.30mm wall thickness. Outer diameter, fiber count and type, materials and single lengths freely chooseable.

FIMT with thick wall alu layer

Fiber in Metal Tube with a thick wall alu extrusion in wall thicknesses from 0.95 to 3.0mm. Outer diameter, fiber count and type, materials and single lengths freely chooseable.

Additional Resources

Supporting Energy Transition and Innovation with Fiber Optics

FIMT for OPGW / OPPC Datasheet

Frequently Asked Questions

An Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) is a cable variety employed in overhead power lines. This cable serves dual purposes, providing both grounding and communication capabilities. It features a tubular construction housing one or more (usually more) optical fibers, encased within concentric layers of steel and aluminum wire.

OPGW is predominantly utilized in the electric utility sector, strategically positioned at the highest point of the transmission line. This placement allows it to act as a shield, protecting the critical conductors below from lightning strikes. Simultaneously, it offers a pathway for telecommunications, serving both internal purposes and third-party communication needs.

Selecting the ideal cables for overhead transmission lines can be challenging. It’s important to focus on essential factors like cable design, environmental conditions, and installation expenses. For scenarios where you are working with new cables and need to build the entire transmission system anew, OPGW is the appropriate choice.

An Optical Phase Conductor (OPPC) serves as a substitute telecommunications solution in scenarios where an existing ground wire is absent, rendering Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) unsuitable. Its fundamental structure mirrors that of standard OPGW, but it is crafted to replicate the mechanical and electrical properties of the phase wire it substitutes. In contrast to OPGW, which does not carry a continuous current, OPPC operates as an energized cable along high voltage power lines.

Usually, OPGW cables use single-mode optical fibers that have low transmission loss, streamlining the transmission over long distances at high speeds. The external look of OPGW bears resemblance to the aluminium-conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR) cable, which is commonly utilized for shield wires.

Two configurations are available for OPGW cables. The first is the Central Tube OPGW, which features a steel tube encasing the optical fibers at the core of the cable. Alternatively, the steel tube can be incorporated within the stranding layer of the OPGW cable. This second option facilitates the inclusion of multiple Fiber in Metal Tubes (FIMTs) within the cable, thereby providing an increased number of optical fibers.

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