A single building can often get by with one switch cabinet and a few access points. A property with several buildings spread across a site is different. The distances, the ground between buildings, lightning, and the number of systems sharing the network all change the design.
A single building can often get by with one switch cabinet and a few access points. A property with several buildings spread across a site is different. The distances, the ground between buildings, lightning, and the number of systems sharing the network all change the design.
This guide is for developers, owners and facility managers of resorts, residential estates, compounds, school and college campuses, hospitals and warehouses in Zanzibar. It explains how to plan the network so it works on day one and can grow without being dug up again.
Distance. Standard network cable (Cat6 and similar) is limited to 100 metres per run. Beyond that you need fibre, a wireless link, or an intermediate switch.
Lightning and ground potential. Copper cable between buildings connects their electrical earths. During storms, surges travel along it and destroy switches at both ends. Fibre carries light, not electricity, and breaks that path.
Salt air, sun and rain. Outdoor cabinets, cameras, access points and cable joints corrode and overheat near the coast. Specify outdoor-rated, sealed equipment, shaded or ventilated cabinets, and stainless fixings.
Power. Each building may have its own supply, and power cuts hit them at different moments. Every cabinet with active equipment needs its own UPS, or the network breaks into pieces during a cut.
Ground conditions. Coral rock and sand affect trenching and duct depth. Plan cable routes early, ideally before landscaping and paving.
Many systems, one network. Guest or resident Wi-Fi, offices, CCTV, access control, intercoms, fire alarm interfaces, PA, smart controls and payment systems all share the backbone. Each needs to be separated and managed.
Distance from support. Skilled technicians can be scarce outside Unguja town, and spares often come from Dar es Salaam. Design for remote monitoring and keep spares on site.
Fibre to the site. Fibre internet availability varies across the islands. Large sites often need a fixed wireless or 4G link as primary or backup.
For critical sites, a ring of fibre lets traffic take the other path if one cable is cut.
Where a road, a neighbour's land or a heritage wall blocks a trench, a point-to-point wireless link can join two buildings. It needs clear line of sight, solid outdoor mounting and surge protection. It is a good tool, but fibre is more reliable for the main backbone.
Pools, gardens, beach areas, warehouse yards and estate roads need outdoor-rated access points, mounted on poles or walls with weatherproof cabling. Coverage outdoors depends heavily on trees, walls and the shape of the site, so survey before buying.
Cameras, access points and intercoms are usually powered over the network cable. Add up the power each switch must supply and leave headroom. The PoE budget calculator does the arithmetic.
These Extrion projects used the same building blocks:
This phase is the hardest to change later. Do it during construction if you can.
Warning Trenching, working at height on poles and roofs, and work on mains power are hazardous. Fibre splicing produces tiny glass fragments that can injure eyes and skin. Leave these jobs to trained installers with proper safety equipment.
See also our real estate and construction, hospitality and tourism and agriculture and warehousing pages.
As early as possible, ideally at design stage. Ducts and cabinet locations are cheap to plan and expensive to add later.
Single-mode handles long distances and higher future speeds, and is a common choice for site backbones. Multimode can suit short runs inside a building. Your designer should choose based on distances and equipment.
For one or two hard-to-reach buildings, yes. For the main backbone, fibre is more reliable and not affected by weather or obstacles.
Put a UPS in every cabinet with active equipment, and size it for the time it takes your generator to start and stabilise, with margin.
Usually not. One or two connections at the core, shared over the backbone, are easier to manage and secure.
If you are developing or upgrading a resort, estate, campus or warehouse, Extrion can survey the site, design the backbone and install it. See our network architecture service or contact us.
This guide is general information to help you plan. Prices, product features and regulations change, so confirm the details for your own site before you buy.
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