AFL builds OPGW network with Eskom in South Africa

AFL, out of its UK operations, has secured a major contract with South African power utility Eskom to supply complete end-to-end communication systems together with installation, supervision, and the final testing and commissioning.

The company will also be responsible for the installation of optical ground wire (OPGW) on greenfield sites as well as retrofitting existing overhead lines with the OPGW system. As a manufacturer of OPGW cables, AFL says it enables its customers to source OPGW and associated accessories from a single supplier.

The contract covers both the transmission and distribution parts of Eskom’s business, and individually awarded projects will take place across South Africa. During the execution of the projects, AFL will work with the local South African workforce, and as a result, the company will be passing on its skills to the employees of local installation companies.

Eskom estimates that up to 11,000 km of OPGW may be required to accommodate the new routes planned over the five-year duration of the contract.

"The communication routes that will be built over the coming years are solely for our own use in the control and protection of substations based around the South African countryside," said a spokesperson for Eskom. "AFL's superior experience and ability to supply complete OPGW solutions is the primary reason we chose them for this project."

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