Maybe someone here knows the answer to this.

The outer sheath of the power/data cable for my tablet began to fray just below the plastic micro usb mount. I fixed it with a zip tie, but while doing so noticed a few strands of silver wire had broken. They WERN’T the three insulated wires in the cable which remain intact and still transferring power. So what were those wires? A means of stiffening the flex? Or the means by which data is transmitted through the lead? I’ve no access to a computer at the moment to test the data abilites of the repaired cabke.

Shielding?

Shielding. It’s a cheap cable, just buy a new one before it worsens and shorts.

I have a spare. I was just curious.