Proactively overcome fiber optic cable loss, ensuring stable transmission

Lao Cai Optical Fiber Enterprise manages more than 175 km of optical cable.

Currently, Lao Cai Power Transmission Enterprise manages more than 175 km of fiber optic cables, including intra-provincial lines connecting affiliated power companies, 110kV transformer stations and inter-provincial lines connecting with Power Companies of neighboring provinces such as Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La... The system is designed according to the N-1 standard loop , integrating SCADA transmission channels and network infrastructure at 110kV transformer stations, meeting the data transmission needs for Lao Cai Remote Control Center as well as information technology applications and technical management throughout Lao Power Company (PC Lao Cai).

The factory successfully fixed three loss points at the junction boxes, replacing 560 m of fiber optic cable.

Every year, Lao Cai Power Company deploys the construction of new important OPGW optical fiber lines on the 110kV intra-provincial and inter-provincial lines, connecting with power companies in the Northern Power Corporation. At the same time, the repair of important optical fiber lines is also promoted to ensure the stability and reliability of the transmission system.

In the second quarter of 2025, PC Lao Cai will replace the fiber optic cable on the 110kV line from the 220kV Bao Thang transformer station to the 110kV Luc Yen transformer station. This line plays an important role in ensuring a stable transmission line for the grid operation and monitoring system.

In practice, optical fiber signal attenuation is inevitable due to many reasons such as cable stretching due to weather, large spans, water seepage in the cable junction box, or insects and small animals such as mice and squirrels crawling in to make nests and gnawing at the protective coating of the cable. In particular, most optical fiber lines run along high-voltage power poles through mountainous areas and rugged terrain, so inspection and monitoring become even more important.

Technical staff perform fiber optic cable connection.

To control this situation, Lao Cai PC technical staff regularly use OTDR measuring equipment - a specialized optical measuring tool that helps describe the technical characteristics of optical fibers along the entire route. From the collected data, technicians can analyze and accurately identify high-loss points to deploy timely treatment plans, ensuring that the transmission signal is always smooth and stable.

Most recently, the Enterprise successfully fixed three attenuation points at the junction boxes, replaced 560 m of fiber optic cable and reconnected cables that were broken due to storms. These efforts have helped maintain stable transmission speeds from 110kV transformer stations to the Remote Control Center, ensuring continuous communication in power system operations.

Fiber optic cable damaged by rodents chewing through the protective jacket.

In the context of digital transformation taking place strongly at the Northern Power Corporation in general and PC Lao Cai in particular, stable and safe transmission infrastructure is the foundation for deploying smart applications such as remote grid monitoring, digital operation management, and artificial intelligence applications in data processing.

Assessing this work, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung, representative of Lao Cai LDCT Enterprise said: “We always proactively conduct periodic inspections, strengthen field supervision, promptly handle attenuation points, and ensure the stable operation of the optical cable system. This is one of the priority tasks, closely linked to the digitalization process in the entire industry.”

With the synchronous and proactive participation of the technical staff, the fiber optic cable system managed by Lao Cai Fiber Optic Enterprise continues to affirm its important role in ensuring high-speed, safe and continuous transmission lines - effectively serving the work of production command and control, technical management and improving the quality of customer service.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chu-dong-khac-phuc-suy-hao-cap-quang-dam-bao-duong-truyen-on-dinh-post400140.html