Abstract: Various examples are provided related to optical ground wire (OPGW) designs and mitigation of impulse effects. In one example, an optical ground cable includes one or more inner optical fiber; and a shield surrounding the one or more inner optical fiber. The shield includes a shield material have a skin-depth less than a skin-depth of aluminum which can improve rejection of intrusive signals and communications capabilities. Conductivity of the shield material can be greater than the conductivity of aluminum and permeability of the shield material can be greater than the permeability of aluminum.