1. Overhead optical cables are primarily used for secondary trunk lines and below, and are suitable for areas with flat, gently undulating terrain.
2. Overhead optical cables are primarily suspended from steel strands or self-supporting, with both typically using steel strands. They are installed by hanging from poles or by bundling (wrapping) cables.
Overhead optical cables are vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons, ice, and floods. They are also susceptible to external forces and weakening of their inherent mechanical strength. Therefore, the failure rate of overhead optical cables is higher than that of direct-buried and duct-mounted optical fiber cables.