There are two primary categories of underground cable laying methods:

1. Traditional Open Trenching: This involves excavating a trench, placing the cable directly in the ground (direct burial) or within protective ducts, and then backfilling the trench. This method is often used in open fields or rural areas where surface disruption is not a major concern.

2. Trenchless Technology: These methods, such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), microtunneling, and pipe bursting, are used to install cables without significant surface excavation. They are ideal for crossing obstacles like roads, rivers, or railways and for working in densely populated urban areas with minimal environmental and traffic disruption.