ADVANCEMENT OF AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
Smart cities require extensive low-voltage power and control cabling backbone to support public lighting, EV charging, surveillance systems, and sensor networks. Over 1,000 smart city projects are underway globally, with China alone investing over $30 billion in its smart city framework. India has allocated funding of over ₹286 billion (US$3.4 billion) to its Smart Cities Mission, covering 100 cities with projects like smart grids, intelligent traffic systems, and digital governance platforms.
These projects generate enormous demand for low-voltage power and control cables (up to 1000V or more) to energize and manage systems like LED streetlights, traffic signals, public Wi-Fi, and environmental monitoring stations. For example, a single smart pole typically houses 5–6 devices (e.g., CCTV, sensors, lighting) requiring both power distribution and communication via LV control cabling. Additionally, the number of electric vehicle charging stations worldwide has exceeded 3.5 million, each needing integrated LV power and control cabling for both energy supply and system management.
The increasing electrification of urban transport and digital services makes LV power and control cabling a critical component of modern urban infrastructure.
Low-voltage power and control cables are vital in smart grid systems, connecting energy meters, transformers, and automation control systems with communication hubs. As of 2023, over 1 billion smart electricity meters are installed globally, each linked through a web of low-voltage signal, control, and power cables. In Europe, utilities like Enedis in France and E.ON in Germany have deployed millions of meters relying on robust LV control cabling.
Moreover, fiber optic deployment for city-wide broadband surpassed 550 million fiber-kilometers globally in 2023, much of it involving low-voltage installation frameworks. In cities such as Barcelona and Songdo, kilometers of shielded LV copper and fiber control cables have been laid to enable real-time surveillance, adaptive traffic control, and smart waste management. The rise of edge data centers to support cloud and 5G applications especially in cities like Singapore, London, and Tokyo is creating additional demand for structured LV power and control cabling.
These centers often allocate 15–20% of capital costs to power and signal infrastructure, underscoring the importance of high-performance cabling systems.
The ongoing transition towards renewable energy sources and the expansion of smart grid technologies are driving an increasing demand for low voltage power and control cables, which are essential for efficient energy distribution and management.
U.S. Department of Energy