Ukusetyenziswa kweentambo zombane kuqale emva kwenkulungwane. Ngo-1879, umqambi waseMelika u-TA Edison wasongela ijute kwintonga yobhedu, wayithungela kumbhobho wentsimbi, waza wayizalisa ngomxube we-asphalt ukwenza intambo. Wafakela le ntambo eNew York, enguvulindlela wokuhambisa umbane ngaphantsi komhlaba. Kunyaka olandelayo, umqambi waseBritane uCallender wenza i-asphalt{6}}yephepha elifakwe ngaphakathi{7}}intambo yamandla egqunyiweyo. Ngo-1889, umqambi wase-Bhritane u-SZ Ferranti wabeka i-oyile eyi-10 kV{13}}yephepha elifakwe ngaphakathi{14}}intambo egqunyiweyo phakathi kwe-London ne-Deptford. Ngo-1908, i-UK yagqiba inethiwekhi ye-cable ye-20 kV. Iintambo zombane zaye zasetyenziswa ngokubanzi. Ngo-1911, iJamani yafakela i-60 kV ephezulu{22}}iintambo zevoltage, iphawula ukuqala kophuhliso lweentambo{23} zevoltage ephezulu. Ngo-1913, umqambi waseJamani uM. Hochstedt wavelisa isigaba{27}}iintambo ezikhuselekileyo, ezathi zaphucula ukuhanjiswa kombane ngaphakathi kwentambo kwaye zaphelisa uxinzelelo olubambekayo kumphezulu wokugquma, okuphawula isiganeko esibalulekileyo kuphuhliso lweentambo zombane. Ngo-1952, iSweden yafakela i-380 kV ultra{31}}iintambo zamandla ombane aphezulu kumzi-mveliso wayo osemantla, iphawula ukusetyenziswa kokuqala-kweentambo zamandla ombane aphezulu. Ngeminyaka yoo-1980, i-1100 kV kunye ne-1200 kV ultra{37}iintambo zamandla ombane aphezulu zazisele zivelisiwe.