1. Introduction: The industrial cornerstone status of cable networks
As the "vascular system" of modern infrastructure, power cables, communication cables,
energy cables and transportation cables constitute the underlying support network for
industrial operations. In 2024, the global cable market will exceed US$300 billion, of which
power companies, construction and manufacturing industries account for 62% (data from
the InternationalCable Association).
This report will analyze the irreplaceability of four types of cables in six core areas.
(1) Power companies: the main artery of energy transmission
UHV power cables undertake 90% of the power transmission tasks of my country's "West-
to-East Power Transmission" project, and the loss rate is 40% lower than that of traditional
lines.
10kV power cables in the distribution network realize intelligent layout of urban
underground corridors, and the fault location accuracy reaches the centimeter level.
(2) Construction companies: neural networks of building systems
Fire-resistant power cables (such as WDZN-YJY type) guarantee the third-level fire
protection standard ofsuper high-rise buildings.
Communication cables are integrated with 5G indoor distribution systems to support
the connection of smart building Internet of Things terminals.
(3) Manufacturing companies: power umbilical cords of production lines
Oil-resistant energy cables achieve stable transmission of 2000A high current in the
welding workshop of automobile factories.
Robot production lines rely on shielded communication cables to achieve μs-level signal
synchronization.
(4) Communications industry: paving stones of information highways
Submarine communication cables carry 98% of the world's international data transmission
, and the single-fiber capacity reaches 800Tbps.
The insertion loss value of RF cables for 5G base stations is ≤0.5dB/m, which is 60%
higher than that of the 4G era.
(5) Energy industry: Connectors for green transformation
The UV resistance of 1500V DC energy cables for photovoltaic power stations exceeds 25
years. Salt-fog-resistant transportation cables are used between offshore wind power
arrays, and the torsion resistance performance is 3 times that of the IEC standard.
(6) Transportation industry: Dynamic carrier of mobile networks
The conductivity of copper-magnesium alloy power cables for high-speed rail contact
networks remains above 80% IACS.
Intelligent rail communication cables support 20ms-level delay communication of vehicle
-ground wireless systems.
2. Technological evolution trends
Material innovation: Graphene composite cables increase transmission capacity by 5 times
(experimental data of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2024).
Intelligent operation and maintenance: Power cables implanted with RFID can achieve
digital twin management throughout the life cycle.
Multi-cable fusion: Three-in-one energy cables integrate power/communication/sensing
functions and have been piloted in Xiongan New Area.
3. Conclusion: Strategic value of cable networks
Under the "dual carbon" goal, the average annual compound growth rate of the four types of
cables will remain above 12% (forecast for 2025-2030). It is recommended that the industry
focus on: ① Domestic substitution of high-voltage cables ② Formulation of standards for
composite transportation cables ③ Research on the adaptation of communication cables
and quantum communication technology.
