How to Set Up a MikroTik WISP Network from Scratch in Uganda (2026 Guide)

Uganda's wireless ISP sector is one of the fastest-growing in East Africa. With improving 4G backhaul availability, rising demand for fixed wireless broadband, and a growing pool of MikroTik-trained engineers, there has never been a better time to launch or scale a WISP in Uganda.

But getting from zero to a live, billing, subscriber-serving network requires more than buying hardware. You need a plan — for your PoP sites, your radio links, your PPPoE configuration, your RADIUS authentication, and your billing automation.

This guide walks you through every layer, from the first site survey to the first subscriber going live on your MikroTik network.

Step 1: Plan Your Network Topology

Before buying hardware, map your network. A Uganda WISP has three layers:

• Core layer: Main router on transit. Runs PPPoE, RADIUS client, NAT, firewall, bandwidth management.
• Distribution layer: Tower sector antennas and P2P backhaul dishes across your service area.
• Access layer: CPE radios at subscriber premises for last-mile delivery.

💡 Plan billing from Day 1. Our ISP billing system goes live with your first subscriber →

Step 2: Site Survey

Your PoP site determines coverage, link quality, and capacity. Uganda's hills are your friend — a well-sited Kampala hilltop turns a 2km radius into a 5km one.

• ✅ Radio Mobile / Google Earth Pro — LOS modelling to subscriber zones
• ✅ Physical visit — rooftop access, structural integrity, landlord agreement
• ✅ Fresnel zone clearance on all backhaul links (60%+ target)
• ✅ Power confirmed — mains or solar + battery backup
• ✅ Security plan — locked enclosures, CCTV (theft is real in Uganda)
• ✅ RF interference scan on 2.4GHz and 5GHz via MikroTik frequency scan
• ✅ Tower height — most urban Uganda PoPs need 6–15m above roofline

Step 3: Hardware Selection

Fast-Start Bundle

• MikroTik ISP Starter Kit — 4-Device Bundle — Router, outdoor AP, PoE injector, mounting hardware. Fastest path to first PoP live.

Core Routers

• MikroTik hEX RB750Gr3 — PPPoE, RADIUS, NAT, queues for 100–150 subscribers. Fanless, robust.
• MikroTik hEX S RB760iGS — SFP fibre uplink + PoE-out. For fibre transit connections.

Distribution & Backhaul

• MikroTik MANTBox 12s — 2.4GHz Sector — Integrated radio + antenna. 12dBi, 120°. Strong vegetation penetration.
• MikroTik MANT 30 PA — 5GHz 30dBi Dish — P2P backhaul. 10–40km links.

Subscriber CPE

• MikroTik wAP ac — Dual-Band Outdoor AP — IP66-rated. 2.4 + 5GHz concurrent CPE for subscriber premises.
• MikroTik hAP RouterBOARD — Indoor subscriber router. Connects to outdoor CPE, distributes in-home Wi-Fi.

PoE, Mounting & Out-of-Band

• MikroTik RBGPOE PoE Injector (9–48V) — Powers all outdoor radios. Stock spares at every PoP.
• MikroTik QuickMOUNT PRO — Precise azimuth and elevation adjustment without full dismount.
• MikroTik Woobm-USB OOB Management — Emergency router access when main link is down. Essential for remote PoPs.

Cabling

• Celertec CAT6 Outdoor Solid Copper — 305m Drum (23AWG) — UV HDPE, aerial/direct-burial. Only solid copper for PoE. Never CCA. USh 795,000/drum.

RADIUS & Billing Server

• HP ProLiant DL380 Gen10 — FreeRADIUS, billing, NMS, subscriber DB. Redundant PSUs, RAID, iLO. 500–5,000+ subscribers.

Step 4: PPPoE + RADIUS Configuration

4.1 Basic Router Setup

1. Connect via Winbox (192.168.88.1 or MAC)
2. Set strong admin password immediately
3. Configure WAN (ether1): transit IP, gateway, DNS
4. NAT masquerade on WAN for subscriber traffic
5. Create subscriber bridge or VLAN on LAN ports

4.2 PPPoE Server

1. PPP > PPPoE Servers — Add new on subscriber interface
2. Service Name: e.g. "netedge-wisp"
3. Default Profile: IP pool + DNS
4. Enable One Session Per Host
5. Keepalive timeout: 30–60 seconds

4.3 RADIUS Client

1. RADIUS — Add new: FreeRADIUS IP + shared secret
2. Enable PPP service (+ Hotspot optional)
3. PPP > AAA — Enable Use RADIUS
4. Interim Update: 300–600 seconds

Test: PPPoE login should appear in PPP > Active Connections with RADIUS accounting record.

💡 Our billing system auto-creates/deletes PPPoE accounts on payment via RADIUS →

Step 5: Bandwidth Management

Simple Queue — Under 50 Subscribers

Push Mikrotik-Rate-Limit via RADIUS per plan. No manual queue creation needed per subscriber.

PCQ — Medium WISPs

Per Connection Queuing fairly distributes bandwidth across active sessions. Combine with RADIUS rate limits for plan tiers.

Queue Tree + HTB — 100+ Subscribers

Hierarchical Token Bucket for parent/child structures. DSCP-prioritise voice/video. Guarantee minimums with burst-to-max-plan.

Step 6: FreeRADIUS Server Setup

1. Install: sudo apt install freeradius freeradius-mysql
2. clients.conf: MikroTik router IP + shared secret
3. MariaDB/MySQL backend for production subscriber accounts
4. Load MikroTik vendor dictionary (Mikrotik-Rate-Limit, Mikrotik-Recv-Limit)
5. Test: radtest username password localhost 0 testing123
6. Integrate billing — billing software writes accounts to RADIUS DB

Step 7: Antenna Installation & Alignment

• Use QuickMOUNT PRO for fine azimuth/elevation without full dismount
• MikroTik Wireless > Align tool — peak signal bar + audio tone while adjusting physically
• CCQ above 90%, signal above −70dBm before declaring link live
• Run Frequency Usage scan before selecting operating channel
• Woobm-USB on PoP router for OOB access during installation

Step 8: First Subscriber Connections

1. Create subscriber account in billing system
2. Billing pushes account to RADIUS automatically
3. Install wAP ac at premises in station mode pointing to sector
4. Configure CPE PPPoE client with subscriber credentials
5. Connect hAP RouterBOARD to CPE for in-home Wi-Fi
6. Verify PPPoE session in router — correct IP + RADIUS bandwidth limits
7. Speed test — confirm plan speed delivered

Step 9: Billing Automation

The step most Uganda ISPs skip — and pay for in manual hours every month. Your system must:

• ✅ Accept MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money automatically
• ✅ Create/renew PPPoE accounts via RouterOS API or RADIUS on payment
• ✅ Auto-suspend expired accounts without intervention
• ✅ Send SMS/WhatsApp reminders at 3 days, 1 day, expiry
• ✅ Manage multiple MikroTik routers across all PoPs from one dashboard
• ✅ Generate daily revenue and subscriber reports
• ✅ Subscriber self-service portal for renewals and balance checks

Explore ISP Billing & Automation — built for Uganda MikroTik WISPs →

WISP Setup Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What equipment do I need?
hEX router, sector antennas, wAP ac CPE, PoE injectors, solid copper CAT6, RADIUS server, billing software. The ISP Starter Kit bundles the essentials.

Q: How do I configure PPPoE on MikroTik?
PPP > PPPoE Servers — add server on subscriber interface, set IP pool, enable RADIUS under PPP > AAA, point to FreeRADIUS IP.

Q: What is RADIUS and why do I need it?
Centralises auth and lets billing control access, bandwidth, and suspensions automatically — essential beyond 20–30 subscribers.

Q: How many subscribers per PoP?
One sector: 20–60. Multiple sectors: 100–300+. hEX caps at 100–150; CCR handles 1,000+.

Q: How do I automate billing?
RouterOS API or RADIUS integration — auto-creates on Mobile Money payment, auto-suspends on expiry. Our solution is built for Uganda WISPs →

Q: How do I survey a PoP site?
Radio Mobile / Google Earth for LOS modelling + physical visit. 60%+ Fresnel clearance on all backhaul links.

Ready to launch your Uganda WISP? Talk to our ISP team for a free planning consultation →