Gorilla Forest Lodge, Uganda

Design: Fracarro Radioindustrie
Client: Abercrombie & Kent (A&K)
IT Operations Automation Director: Gian Luigi Chiesa
Location: Parco di Bwindi, Uganda

The goal was to create a reliable, efficient and future-ready network infrastructure capable of delivering advanced digital services (such as widespread Wi-Fi coverage, telephony and video on demand) in the heart of the forest. A key requirement was that the system supplied by Fracarro be fully compatible with the client’s existing standard technologies, ensuring a consistent luxury guest experience across its international locations while simplifying maintenance operations.

To meet the property owner’s requirements, a fibre-optic network infrastructure based on Fracarro’s GPON technology was implemented.

Designed to ensure maximum reliability, the system is built around a GPON fibre-optic network spanning approximately 1.5 km and serving even locations more than 400 metres from the data centre. Due to the lack of local coverage, the external connection is provided by a 60 Mbps microwave radio link.

The main hub is the central distribution point, where all digital services converge. It houses two OLT (Optical Line Terminal) units configured for redundancy: one operates as the master and the other as the slave, taking over instantly in the event of a failure, without any noticeable service disruption for users. From this rack, 12-core fibre-optic backbone cables run to the eight areas of the property.

The network follows a ring topology, running through the lodge and returning to the starting point. In each area, the fibre is branched off inside splice enclosures connected to optical splitters with dual inputs, while the main cable continues uninterrupted. This design ensures that if a physical cable section is damaged, the signal can still reach its destination by travelling around the ring from the opposite direction.

The final link in the chain consists of ONTs (Optical Network Terminals) installed in individual accommodation units and common areas, protected by UPS backup systems. These devices convert the optical signal and provide the final connection to business devices via PoE-enabled RJ45 ports, including Wi-Fi access points, telephones, video surveillance cameras and tablets used to deliver on-demand content.

The entire physical infrastructure also features cable ducts, protected routes and watertight splices to withstand the rainy climate and high humidity of the forest.