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There are no more items in your cartPlan smarter networks with Ubiquiti’s UISP Design Center
- Johan Koekemoer
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For Internet Service Providers, Managed Service Providers, and professional integrators, designing reliable, profitable networks has never been more important or more complex. From rural connectivity projects to sprawling municipal Wi-Fi, planning networks that perform as promised and deliver return on investment can make or break a deployment.
This is where Ubiquiti’s UISP Design Center comes in. As part of Ubiquiti’s UISP ecosystem, the Design Center gives you the tools to plan, simulate, and optimise wireless and fibre networks before you spend a cent on hardware. Here is what it offers, how it works, and why it is worth incorporating into your next project.
What is the UISP Design Center?
The UISP Design Center is a web-based planning and simulation tool, purpose-built for ISPs, MSPs, and large-scale network operators.
It lets you design, visualise, and test wireless and fibre networks using Ubiquiti’s UISP-compatible hardware, including devices from the airMAX AC, airFiber 60 (AF60), and UFiber GPON lines, all laid out on real-world maps.
Integrated with the UISP management platform, it bridges the gap between planning and operations, ensuring a smooth handover from concept to deployment and monitoring.
You can access the Design Center for free with a Ubiquiti account at uisp.ui.com/design-center.
Why use it?
Professional network planning is about more than just drawing links between sites. The Design Center helps you:
• Reduce risk: Simulate network performance and identify weaknesses before investing.
• Save time: Get automated hardware recommendations, generate a bill of materials, and map device placements quickly.
• Improve accuracy: Work with real-world mapping and environmental data for realistic designs.
• Plan for growth: Simulate and test upgrades before making changes to live networks.
• Manage smarter: Designs can be imported into the UISP platform for ongoing monitoring and management.
In short, it gives you confidence that your network will work as designed and deliver value as expected.
Where does it shine?
The UISP Design Center is particularly useful in these environments:
• WISPs: Planning rural and peri-urban wireless links, including long-distance PtP and PtMP deployments.
• Campus networks: Designing multi-building connectivity for universities, office parks, and industrial estates.
• Municipal networks: Deploying city-wide public Wi-Fi, surveillance networks, or government facilities.
• Remote operations: Mining camps, resorts, or agricultural areas with challenging terrain and no wired infrastructure.
Real-world scenarios
Some typical applications include:
• Rural Internet roll-out: A WISP designs and simulates PtMP coverage for a farming community, ensuring clear line-of-sight and optimal placement before deployment.
• Campus upgrade: An IT manager maps fibre backhaul and wireless access points for new student residences, ensuring seamless integration into the existing UISP-managed network.
• Municipal Wi-Fi: A city council simulates public hotspot placement to avoid dead zones and minimise interference.
Beyond spreadsheets: The smart planning advantage
Compared to spreadsheets and generic diagram tools, the UISP Design Center offers:
| Feature | UISP Design Center | Traditional tools |
| Real-world map integration | ✓ | Limited |
| Ubiquiti device recommendations | ✓ | Manual |
| Profitability tracking | ✓ | Rarely integrated |
| Seamless UISP import | ✓ | Manual |
| Advanced performance simulation | ✓ | Basic or absent |
| Scalability | Designed for large networks | Often limited |
When to use it
The Design Center is best used at the earliest stage of a project, to assess feasibility and simulate coverage. It is equally valuable when:
• Validating designs before hardware purchase.
• Planning upgrades or expansions to existing UISP networks.
• Preparing proposals for client approval, with clear visuals and data.
Tips for integrators in South Africa and beyond
• Use accurate local mapping and terrain data to improve simulation results.
• Plan for growth in high-demand areas to reduce redesigns.
• Validate line-of-sight for wireless links, especially in peri-urban and rural areas.
• Always import live network data to keep designs aligned with reality.
• Share design exports with stakeholders early for feedback and buy-in.
Who should use it?
The UISP Design Center is ideal for:
• ISPs and WISPs, particularly in underserved areas.
• Professional integrators designing complex or large-scale networks.
• IT managers overseeing multi-site or campus-scale environments.
• MSPs managing networks for business parks, municipalities, or remote operations.
While the tool is powerful, keep in mind:
• It only supports Ubiquiti UISP-compatible devices.
• As a web-based service, it requires stable internet access.
• Simulations are robust but cannot fully replace real-world site surveys.
Why it matters
In South Africa and across Sub-Saharan Africa, network operators face unique challenges such as long distances, rugged terrain, and fast-growing demand. The UISP Design Center provides a practical, cost-effective way to meet these challenges with confidence. It enables the delivery of reliable networks that scale as your customer base grows.
We help integrators and service providers build networks that connect communities, businesses, and people. Whether you need Ubiquiti’s trusted hardware, expert advice, or support from Nova, our AI-powered product specialist, we are ready to assist you can get in touch with us at sales@miro.co.za or speak to one of our sales consultants at 012 657 0906.
Browse our full range of Ubiquiti broadband wireless solutions and let’s plan your next project together.
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