Overhead Distribution Lines. Lawrence M. Slavin

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Figure 1.2 Typical joint-use utility pole application.

      Source: Lawrence M. Slavin.

It is recognized that the increasing deployment of wireless technologies (cellular phones, satellite TV, etc.) has greatly impacted the communications industry, resulting in lost revenue for some of the wireline-based utilities. Nonetheless, it will be a very long time, if ever, before cable-based wireline communications become replaced and discarded. Wireless technology is inherently inferior to wireline (copper, fiber, coax) technologies with respect to various characteristics and features (security, reliability, quality, information capacity, etc.), thereby inhibiting elimination of physical cables. The present major investment in new wireline facilities by the major telephone companies, wherever feasible, bears witness to this principle. Furthermore, “wireless” systems contain multiple wireline segments, such as for interconnecting towers and cell sites, and for providing backhaul communications to the necessary central offices and data centers, as well as for supplying power to the wireless facilities. Ironically, the deployment of the latest wireless technology requires denser placement of antennas than previous systems, encouraging their installation at a larger number of elevated locations, for which utility structures and poles are prime candidates. In particular, the much vaunted 5G wireless age relies on these utility poles as the required fundamental infrastructure to provide the comprehensive coverage necessary for their new services, for which the physical issues discussed in this manual should be considered. In addition, although various alternatives are being pursued for distributed, renewable energy sources for electric power, the continued use of physical cables for transporting electric power supply to homes and industries will be required for the indefinite future.