ISP Wireless - Plan, Build & Scale Your Business With UISP Design Center

Traditionally, the need for capital and highly skilled workers has precluded many entrepreneurs from entering into the ISP industry. For existing Internet providers, such obstacles also limit how effectively they can expand/grow their business. This article discusses how to effectively kickstart a Wireless ISP (WISP) using the all-in-one ISP Design Center, Ubiquiti's comprehensive software platform for planning your Internet provider business.

Note: When using the ISP Design Center, be sure to log in with your UI Account to take full advantage of all its features, including the ability to simulate more than two links, import your UISP network, and more.

Features

ISP Design Center is Ubiquiti's comprehensive software platform freely available to anyone planning high-speed outdoor wireless networks using cutting-edge technology solutions. Listed below is a summary of the most important features that help with planning/designing your ISP (ensure you are running the latest version of UISP to support all features):

Feature	Description
Signal/RF Coverage	Quickly draw ISP coverage areas to receive helpful recommendations about placement of network infrastructure such as Base Station APs & PTP links.
LIDAR Datasets	Leverage LIDAR datasets as a map overlay to better estimate line-of-sight (LOS) when planning outdoor wireless links.
Noise Floor Simulation	Simulate 5GHz noise floor to better estimate capacity & performance when planning outdoor wireless links.
Topology View	Show high-level view of all network connections for planned ISP network.
Equipment List	Generate inventory lists to assist with faster purchasing via integration with our online store.
Profitability Calculator	Review your business ‘break-even’ point based on upfront/recurring costs vs. user-defined service plans.
Internet Marketplace	Help find, request & lease a dedicated Internet backbone via third-party vendors (currently available in select areas of US).
Tower Marketplace	Help find, request & lease tower sites via third-party vendors (currently available in select areas of US).
Rainfall Map Integration	Display annual rainfall data based on geographic region, helpful for estimating uptime/capacity for vital wireless links.
AI-Assisted Networks	Drive automatic device selection via differently-optimized network profiles: RF performance, low-cost, etc.
Manual Product Selection	Simulate & plan links with built-in support for latest ISP Wireless products.
Sites & Network Import	Import from UISP your network sites & devices into ISP Design Center to design, simulate & grow your provider.

Shown above, screens from ISP Design Center & UISP Application to import data.

ISP Concepts and Terminology

In this section, we'll cover the most basic/fundamental concepts & key terms to help orient you when starting an Internet service provider. Using the ISP Design Center will help you more quickly advance through the three main steps to planning your network, after which, you'll be ready to install.

1. Contract a Backbone
2. Research Coverage Areas
3. Identify Relay Sites 

Backbone

Backbone refers to the site of your ISP's primary Internet connection. As the name suggests, your Internet backbone is vitally important for providing sufficient bandwidth to your customers. Moreover, your backbone should connect to one or more higher-tier providers for reliable, uninterrupted Internet access with Service Level Agreements (SLA) stipulating your contracted speed/uptime.

Note: Check with local government/authorities to determine whether you have permission to start an ISP.

Also known as Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), the most popular backbone sites are located at large data centers around the world, where Internet traffic passes at transfer rates of terabits/second. When first starting an ISP however, you'll only need a tiny fraction of that speed to support your growing customer base. While 1Gbps (up/down traffic) is perhaps a good starting number for new WISPs, you'll undoubtedly use the UISP platform to monitor/track speeds as your business scales with time. By carefully monitoring your total Internet traffic activity, you can also determine ratios of oversubscription, the common practice of overselling more Internet bandwidth than contracted. 

Note: Within the ISP Design Center, right-click on Device segments to specify the site of your Internet backbone to optimize the Topology view and other features.

When contracting an Internet backbone, inquire with as many large providers (located at or near to your target coverage area) as possible to compare pricing, available fiber locations, redundancy, etc. Often, a fiber provider will allow you to connect via "on-net" building where terminals/access already exists; in such cases, you'll also need to work with building owners to request rooftop access to relay your connection to your coverage site.

Note: Within the ISP Design Center, the Internet Marketplace helps you find, request & lease a dedicated Internet backbone via third-party vendors (currently available in select areas of US). 

ISP Requirements (Bandwidth, Size, Redundancy)	Recommended Gateway Device
<1000Mbps or 1-100 Subscribers	UISP Router (UISP-R)
<8500Mbps or 101-1000 Subscribers	UISP Console (UISP-Console)
<9500Mbps, 1001+ Subscribers or multi-WAN	UISP Router Pro (UISP-R-Pro)

Note: For added redundancy, Ubiquiti recommends contracting multiple WAN links across providers. With multiple WAN SFP+ (10Gbps) ports, the UISP-R-Pro is well-positioned for such deployments. To plan your backbone sites, please visit ispdesign.ui.com.

Subscribers

Subscribers (also known as "subs") are your ISP customers to whom you sell your triple-play service package: high-speed internet, VoIP, and IPTV. The key to any profitable ISP business is to efficiently scale the network with subscribers, and listed below are a few research ideas to help get you started:

• Is there sufficient density of subscribers to offset initial costs to provide Internet coverage?
• What kind of short & long-term growth exists in/around the coverage area?
• What kind of service plans do existing ISPs offer?
• What reputation do the competitors have among customers?
• What application/bandwidth needs do subscribers have?
• Are subscribers primarily residential or business?
• What kind of oversubscription ratio is viable?

Speaking with your potential customer base & researching existing ISPs in your area will help you develop a business strategy to create competitive service plans and more effectively market your brand.

Note: Using ISP Design Center's built-in Profitability Calculator will help estimate you ‘break-even’ point based on costs/revenues, and ultimately, secure capital as you pitch your business idea to outside investors.

ISP Device Scenario	Recommended UISP Device
2.4GHz & 5GHz PtMP Wireless Client	PowerBeam, NanoBeam, NanoStation, etc.
60GHz PtMP Wireless Client	Wave-LR, Wave-Nano, etc.
Fiber (GPON) Client + Integrated WiFi	UF-WiFi6
WLAN Router	ACB-ISP, ACB-AC, etc.

Note: 5GHz offers greater range than 60GHz, but 60GHz offers greater throughput. Alternatively, 2.4GHz offers better resilience for near line-of-site applications, but line-of-sight is generally recommended for optimal performance in any outdoor wireless link. To plan your backhaul links, please visit ispdesign.ui.com.

Backhaul

In order to relay your Internet connection to your downstream subscribers, you'll typically deploy a series of backhaul links from your backbone site to your coverage area. Wired backhaul typically refers to fiber runs (ex. UFiber), whereas wireless backhaul refers to outdoor point-to-point (PtP) radio links (ex. airFiber). In either case, backhaul links play a vitally important role in transferring all the network traffic sent/received by your Internet subscribers, and should therefore be planned carefully so as to not become traffic bottlenecks. Wireless backhaul links require clear line-of-sight (LoS) in order to successfully connect, and pass data at the maximum possible rates.

Note: Unless building data exists for the coverage area, ISP Design Center only shows elevation terrain. When visiting both ends of the proposed link, conduct site surveys at each side to check for buildings, trees, and any other obstructions that may impede LoS.

Shown above, add backhaul sites to the ISP Design Center by either clicking on the map, or typing the map coordinates or address.

Achieving line-of-sight in outdoor wireless scenarios means ensuring that Fresnel Zones remain clear of obstructions. Fresnel Zones refer to the oblong, elliptical shape extending between link ends. When planning a link, understand that wireless frequency & Fresnel Zone radius are inversely-related, so higher frequency links (ex. 24GHz, 60GHz) will have smaller radius Fresnel Zones as compared to lower frequency links (ex. 2.4GHz, 5GHz). As a rule of thumb, 60% of the first Fresnel Zone (as simulated in the UISP Design Center) must remain free of any obstruction in order to successfully establish a link, but 100% clearance is encouraged for optimized signal & link performance.

Furthermore, link distance & signal/capacity are negatively-correlated, which means that as link distance increases, link signal/capacity decreases. On the other hand, as link distance decreases, link signal/capacity increases. Therefore, to maximize the speed/performance of your network, it is therefore preferable to design your backhaul as a series of robust, interconnected point-to-point links, each at short/medium distance, rather than overextending the range of single wireless link to cut costs.

Shown above, an example link LoS is obstructed by land terrain.

Shown above, raising height of antennas at either link end provides sufficient clearance for LoS from land terrain, but likely still obstructed by buildings, trees, and other objects not depicted by the link simulator tool.

Show above, designing the backhaul with an additional PtP link (i.e. "hop") to bypass the terrain obstruction.

Shown above, enabling LIDAR datasets (where geographically available) map overlay function allows operators to more accurately assess a link's LOS conditions.

Shown above, the 5GHz noise floor slider allows operators to estimate the effect of noise at both sides of the link on a link's performance & capacity.

In wireless PtP scenarios, operators pair a radio with a hi-gain antenna (ex. parabolic dish) to focus the signal into a narrow beamwidth to reach longer distances. With Auto Product Selection mode enabled (by default), UISP Design Center's built-in link simulator automatically optimizes the link using suggested devices for best performance, cost-savings, etc.

Importantly, you should design your most important backhaul links with redundancy to ensure uptime/failover in case of site/environmental issues, especially in 60GHz deployments. Wave AP PtMP family & AF60-XR/XG feature backup 5GHz radios for such scenarios. 

Shown above, wireless backhaul deployed in different topologies. Shown left, a ring topology for redundancy; shown right, a series of point-to-point-to-point links to extend connectivity.

Note: UISP Design Center also features a detailed Topology view to review end-to-end connectivity throughout your ISP network.

Note: Ubiquiti recommends using a UISP Router for your primary gateway device. Additionally, specifying a Backbone on the UISP Design Center map in order for the Topology view to more accurately portray your network. 

Backhaul PtP Device Scenario	Recommended UISP Device
Hi-Capacity 60GHz Wireless	AF60-XG, AF60-XR
Hi-Capacity 24GHz Wireless	AF24-HD
Hi-Capacity 5GHz PtP Wireless	AF5
Long-Distance 60GHz Wireless	AF60-LR
Long-Distance 5GHz PtP Wireless	AF5X-HD + AF-5G34-S45, etc.

Note: 5GHz offers greater range than 60GHz, but 60GHz offers greater throughput. To plan your backhaul links, please visit ispdesign.ui.com.

Relay Sites

Also known as Point-of-Presence (PoP), or "Towers" in UISP Design Center, relay sites refer to buildings/structures in your ISP topology used to connect various segments of your network, whether via point-to-point backhaul links, or point-to-multipoint base station APs. When looking for relay sites, consider the following characteristics:

Characteristic	Description
Fiber-Ready	When possible, procure backbone/PoP sites with fiber capabilities to maximize throughput & reliability.
Low Costs	Co-locate new wireless links at existing relay sites; reuse existing subscriber rooftops in micro-PoP scenarios.
24/7 Access	When issues occur or upgrades required, 24/7 service access ensures as little network downtime possible with minimal impact.
Line-of-Sight (LoS)	In wireless PtP & PtMP scenarios, tall buildings/structures at high elevation locations make excellent relay sites.
Power On-Site	Ideally, AC power, but for remote relay sites, planning for DC power with battery banks.
Strong SNR	Use UISP Design Center to plan strong, robust links; conduct site surveys to ensure sufficient, clear channels exist at PoP sites.

Note: Within the UISP Design Center, the Tower Marketplace helps you find, request & lease a tower sites via third-party vendors (currently available in select areas of US). 

Base Station

The base station refers to your point-to-multipoint device, such as an access point, used to connect other devices into your ISP topology (usually subscribers). Ubiquiti's fixed wireless PtMP platforms like airMAX AC, Wave, and LTU offer significant advantages over other physical-layer access technology platforms. Familiarizing yourself with these technologies will help you challenge the status-quo in areas where long-time ISPs can monopolize despite mediocre/outdated service:

Technology	Advantages	Disadvantages
Fixed Wireless	Lowest upfront costs Very low infrastructure costs Requires little/no training Deploys/installs rapidly Scales easily Frequency/channel availability High capacity Low latency Virtually noise free (60GHz) Low maintenance	Noise/interference susceptibility (5GHz) LoS requirements Propagation concerns Regional EIRP limitations Shared channel access
Copper	Low latency Dedicated (DSL) High capacity (Cable)	High infrastructure costs Contention-free (DSL) Shared channel access & peak contention times (Cable) Not immune to EMI
Fiber	Ultra hi-capacity Low latency Future-proof Immune to interference	Very high infrastructure costs Costly deployment Requires some training
Satellite	Global availability	High subscriber costs High latency Requires LoS to sky

In wireless PtMP scenarios, a base station AP pairs a radio and hi-gain sector antenna with sufficiently wide beamwidth to provide coverage over a given area (ex. 30°, 60°, 90°). By co-locating multiple hi-gain sector APs at a single base station site, you can provide strong signal to subscribers over 360° of coverage (ex. 12x30° Wave AP, 4x90° Prism Sector AP).

Shown left above, 4x90° sectors; shown right above, 6x60° sectors.

With Auto Product Selection mode enabled (by default), ISP Design Center's built-in link simulator automatically optimizes PtMP coverage using suggested devices with consideration for the following factors:

• Antenna heading/pattern, tilt & azimuth angle
• Maximum average PtMP capacity based on all associated devices
• Regional EIRP limits (based on geographic site locations)
• Power spectral density (based on channel width)

Shown above, UISP Design Center simulates a PtMP network with a 120° beamwidth sector to reach all subscribers.

Shown above, UISP Design Center optimizes the same simulation with 30° beamwidth sector as subscriber sites move to narrower coverage area.

Customer Premise Equipment

The Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) refers to your managed devices installed at the subscriber site. As a wireless ISP, you can mount a CPE radio/antenna on the subscriber's roof, or using a mast to provide LoS clearance to your base station AP site.

Listed below are the most common CPE devices (both wired/wireless):

CPE Device	Description	Platforms/Types
Radio	A wireless radio (usually 5GHz or 60GHz) configured in PtMP-Station mode to connect to the PtMP-AP radio at the ISP base station.	airMAX AC, Wave, LTU
Antenna	Usually hi-gain devices (ex. parabolic/dish reflector), paired with the wireless radio.
Router	A device segmenting the internal ISP network from the downstream subscriber's own local network.	UISP, airCube
Access Point	A device providing WiFi access at the subscriber site.
ONU	In GPON (PtMP fiber) networks, the equivalent of the Station device.	UFiber GPON
Switch/PoE	A device providing power to PoE-ready devices.	UISP, EdgeMAX

 

Base Station Device Scenario	Recommended UISP Device
Hi-Capacity 60GHz Wireless AP	Wave AP
Hi-Capacity 5GHz Wireless AP	RP-5AC + RP-5AC-90-HD
POE Switch	UISP-Switch, UISP-Switch Pro, EP-S16, etc.
Fiber (GPON) PtMP OLT	UF-OLT

Note: 5GHz offers greater range than 60GHz, but 60GHz offers greater throughput. To plan your backhaul links, please visit ispdesign.ui.com.