Underground cables are 'armoured' in order to protect them against mechanical damage. This armour takes either of two forms: (1) steel tape, or (2) wire. Wire armour tends to be used on cables with a larger diameter, as it makes them more flexible compared to cables with tape armour.
In both cases, the armour is spiral-wound towards the outer part of the cable along its length and is, itself, protected with a hessian or plastic outer layer.
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