MikroTik vs Ubiquiti for ISPs: Which to Deploy in Kuwait?
If you're running an ISP, WISP, or a large enterprise network in Kuwait, you've almost certainly evaluated both MikroTik and Ubiquiti. They're the two dominant choices at the mid-market level. This is a practical comparison based on real ISP deployments, not spec sheets.
The fundamental difference
**MikroTik** is a routing and switching company first. RouterOS is its core product — a full-featured network operating system with BGP, MPLS, OSPF, VRF, Queuing, Firewall, and more. The hardware is designed to run RouterOS efficiently.
**Ubiquiti** has two separate ecosystems: **UniFi** (enterprise LAN/wireless management) and **EdgeMAX** (routing/switching). For ISPs, EdgeMAX is the relevant line — EdgeRouters and EdgeSwitches.
For ISP work, you're comparing MikroTik RouterBOARD vs Ubiquiti EdgeMAX. UniFi is a different product for a different use case.
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Routing features
MikroTik
RouterOS v7 is one of the most capable routing OSes available at any price:
For a Kuwait ISP doing BGP peering at KIXP (Kuwait Internet Exchange Point), MikroTik handles it natively. The CCR2004 and CCR2116 are used as core routers by several Kuwaiti ISPs.
Ubiquiti EdgeMAX
EdgeOS is built on Vyatta, a Linux-based routing platform:
EdgeMAX is capable for medium complexity deployments. For a straightforward ISP doing NAT, basic BGP, and DHCP, it works well.
**Winner for routing: MikroTik** — significantly more capable for complex ISP scenarios.
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Hardware value
MikroTik CCR (Cloud Core Router) series
| Model | Ports | Throughput | Price (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCR2004-1G-12S+2XS | 1G + 12x10G + 2x25G | 100 Gbps | 800–950 KD |
| CCR2116-12G-4S+ | 12G + 4x10G | 100 Gbps | 1,100–1,300 KD |
| CCR2004-16G-2S+ | 16G + 2x10G | 30 Gbps | 500–600 KD |
Ubiquiti EdgeMAX series
| Model | Ports | Throughput | Price (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EdgeRouter Infinity | 8x SFP+ | 24 Gbps | 1,200–1,400 KD |
| EdgeRouter 4 | 4G + 1 SFP | 3.4 Gbps | 250–300 KD |
At equivalent price points, MikroTik consistently offers more throughput and more ports. This is particularly true for 10G and 25G uplinks where the CCR2004 is a strong value.
**Winner for hardware value: MikroTik** — more ports and throughput per dinar.
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Management and ease of use
MikroTik
Ubiquiti EdgeMAX
For engineers with Cisco/Juniper backgrounds, EdgeOS CLI feels more familiar. For engineers who grew up on MikroTik (common in Kuwait), RouterOS is second nature.
**Winner for ease of use: Ubiquiti** (for newcomers) / **MikroTik** (for experienced engineers who know it).
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Last-mile CPE
This is where Ubiquiti has a clear advantage for WISPs:
**Ubiquiti airMAX / LiteBeam / PowerBeam** — the dominant last-mile wireless CPE in Kuwait. The LiteBeam 5AC and PowerBeam 5AC are installed on thousands of Kuwait rooftops. Point-to-point links from tower to building, and PTMP for covering a neighbourhood sector.
MikroTik has competing products (SXT, DynaDish, LHG series) that are technically comparable and often cheaper — but airMAX has a larger installed base in Kuwait, which matters for spares and engineer familiarity.
**Winner for last-mile wireless CPE: Ubiquiti** — larger installed base in Kuwait.
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Support and availability in Kuwait
Both brands are well-supported in Kuwait. Centrix carries both MikroTik and Ubiquiti products with local stock, so you're not waiting for international shipping on a critical hardware failure.
MikroTik's longer warranty (typically 3 years on CCR series) vs Ubiquiti's 1-year warranty is worth noting for core infrastructure.
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Summary: which to choose
| Use case | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| ISP core routing (BGP, MPLS) | MikroTik CCR2004/2116 |
| ISP edge / aggregation | MikroTik RB5009 or CCR2004 |
| Last-mile wireless CPE | Ubiquiti LiteBeam / PowerBeam |
| WISP sector AP | Ubiquiti airMAX AC or Wave |
| Simple SME router/firewall | Either — MikroTik RB5009 or Ubiquiti ER-4 |
| If team knows Cisco CLI | Ubiquiti EdgeOS |
| If team knows MikroTik | MikroTik (much more capable ceiling) |
For most Kuwait ISPs, the practical answer is: **MikroTik for routing and core, Ubiquiti for last-mile wireless**. These aren't mutually exclusive — most large Kuwait ISPs run both.
If you're specifying hardware for a new ISP deployment or a capacity upgrade, our engineers can size the right equipment. Contact us or browse our MikroTik and Ubiquiti ranges.