Overhead fibre
engineers are able to
run fibre optic cable
from a ground based
network up an HV
pylon and onto the
‘earthed’ wire.
Health and safety
is paramount
throughout the climb
experience, with a
strict enforcement of
harnesses and PPE
being adopted.
COMMUNICA | Issue Five
Looming over terrain, the giant
lattice structures which traverse
the countrysides and cities of
many of the world’s developed
countries are responsible for
powering homes and businesses
alike.
In England and Wales, National
Grid owns the electricity
transmission system (NETS) and
the gas transmission system in
Great Britain (NTS).
According to National Grid
statistics, NETS consists of
approximately 7,200 kilometres
(4,474 miles) of overhead line,
34 |
1,500 kilometres (932 miles)
of underground cable and 342
substations.
Whilst pylons are able to support
the UK power infrastructure and
are common in many areas of
Great Britain, it’s little-known that
some of these pylons are also
carrying other utilities assets,
such as fibre optic cables which
are assisting in providing some
of the vital backbones to next
generation infrastructure in the
UK.
The technique to deliver fibre on
the overhead network is a highly