Empowering Africa with Fiber Cable – Single Sheath ADSS
Africa’s infrastructure is undergoing a digital leap. Power utilities and telecom operators increasingly turn to fiber cable – single sheath ADSS, a self-supporting, metal‑free aerial solution that addresses the region’s twin challenges of network expansion and resilient deployment.
Regional Need & Market Opportunity
Africa’s grid and broadband expansion represent part of a $10 billion+ opportunity for ADSS suppliers.
Globally, ADSS fiber segment is the dominant market category, projected to grow at ~7–8% CAGR, reaching $3–5 billion by 2032 .
In Africa, many utilities have already deployed “a great deal” of aerial fiber on existing lines, creating untapped capacity and revenue potential .
What Makes Single Sheath ADSS Ideal for Africa
Our Fiber Cable – Single Sheath ADSS is engineered for optimal performance and cost-efficiency:
Product Description
Loose tubes of high-modulus plastic with gel-filled fibers stranded around a non-metal strength member.
Built-in water blocking and a reinforced PE inner jacket with aramid yarn, finished with PE or flame-retardant AT outer sheath.
Product Features
Non-disruptive installation: No need to shut down power systems.
Lightweight & compact: Diameters range ~9.7–16.3 mm; weight just 74–195 kg/km—minimizes ice/wind load on poles & towers.
High mechanical performance: Exceeds tensile (1,900 N long/4,800 N short term), crush (300/1,000 N/100 mm), and bending specs (10×/20×) and operates from –40 °C to +70 °C.
Span customization: Modules from 2 to 288 fibers, cable tailored to specific span and application needs.
Applications
Urban corridors: e.g., Lagos, Nairobi—deploy 96-core versions to support 5G, smart metering with flame-retardant sheaths in congested zones.
Rural/off-grid zones: Lightweight 10–14 mm versions span 200–1,000 m between wooden poles, ideal for solar microgrids and IoT farming.
Tangible Impact: Zambia Case Study
In 2019, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) teamed with ZTE to install 7,000 km of ADSS along power corridors. The results are impressive:
70% reduction in outage response times,
$10 million annually saved by replacing leased microwave lines,
Revenue from excess bandwidth at $1,000+/km annually.
This leapfrogs legacy infrastructure and turns grid investments into digital revenue streams .
Why It Matters
Cost‑efficient: Avoids underground trenching—saves ~40% in deployment time and cost.
Resilient: Withstands extreme weather—150 km/h winds, ice loads, broad temperature swings—ideal from Sahel to rainforests.
Low interference: Electromagnetically inert, enabling deployment near high-voltage lines without signal disruption.
Longevity: 30-year lifespan—almost double that of coaxial cables—significantly reducing long-term OpEx.
Conclusion: Strategic Fit for Suppliers & African Utilities
As a manufacturer, our Fiber Cable – Single Sheath ADSS perfectly aligns with Africa’s infrastructure goals—extending broadband, supporting smart grids, and reducing total cost of ownership. By offering customizable fiber counts, rugged construction, and lightweight profiles, we enable African nations to build robust, future-ready connectivity along existing power lines—unlocking economic growth and digital inclusion across the continent.
