Its genius lies in its dual functionality: it serves as a conventional ground wire (or shield wire) to protect the high-voltage conductors from lightning strikes, while simultaneously housing optical fibers in its core to provide a high-speed data path. An optical ground wire (also known as an OPGW or, in the IEEE standard, an optical fiber composite overhead ground wire) is a type of cable that is used in overhead power lines. Such cable combines the functions of grounding and telecommunications. It deals with the factors that should be considered in determining the characteristics of this type of cable, the apparatus that should be used, the precautions that should be taken in handling the reels, and. Besides traditional cables lashed to messengers, figure-8 cables or ADSS cables, utilities can construct transmission links using optical ground wire (OPGW) or optical power phase conductor (OPPC), cables which include both fiber and metallic conductors, or optical power attached cable (OPAC) which. Being a high-tech development, OPGW incorporates the functionalities of ground wire communication with a built-in fiber optic cable section. Furthermore this specification contains information concerning the quality assurance during manufacturing, the final accepta ce tests. opgw cables are mainly used on lines with voltage levels of 500KV, 220KV, and 110KV. Affected by factors such as line power outages, safety, etc., they are mostly used in newly-built lines.