Delivering Wholesale Ethernet

12 Sep 2025

Delivering Wholesale Ethernet with MikroTik: A Technical Insight into Building a Scalable UK ISP

At Rising Bridge Technology, we specialise in designing and delivering scalable, cost-effective ISP networks using MikroTik hardware and wholesale carrier services. In a previous engagement, I led the technical delivery of a UK-based ISP platform that grew from 15 resold Ethernet circuits to over 200 on-net wholesale circuits within just 24 months—powered by a robust MikroTik-based architecture.

This post outlines the technical approach, hardware choices, and architectural decisions that enabled rapid growth and reliable service delivery.

Core Network Architecture

We built out a resilient core network using:

  • MikroTik CCR2004 as aggregation/access routers at Tier 1 data centres.
  • RB4011 units as Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).
  • MPLS backbone with VRF segmentation to deliver Layer 3 IPVPN services.

Wholesale Ethernet circuits from Sky and Virgin Media Business were delivered to NNIs at strategic UK data centres (e.g., Telehouse, Equinix), providing high-availability interconnects and scalable bandwidth.

Technical Delivery Highlights

MPLS & VRF-Based IPVPN

  • MPLS core built on MikroTik CCRs using LDP and BGP.
  • VRFs per customer for complete routing isolation and secure L3 services.
  • Enabled custom IP routing, QoS, and traffic engineering.

Wholesale Broadband Integration

  • Integrated wholesale broadband alongside Ethernet services.
  • Delivered hybrid access models (e.g., FTTP + Ethernet backup).
  • Used VLAN tagging and dynamic routing to manage service delivery.

Rapid Scaling Strategy

  • Migrated from 15 resold Ethernet circuits to 200+ on-net wholesale circuits.
  • Built automation and monitoring into provisioning workflows.
  • Leveraged MikroTik’s RouterOS scripting, SNMP, and The Dude for operational efficiency.

Consultative Approach to ISP Delivery

This project exemplifies our consultative methodology:

  • Design for scale: Modular architecture with clear separation of core, aggregation, and edge.
  • Carrier coordination: Managing NNIs, delivery SLAs, and fault resolution with wholesale providers.
  • Customer-centric provisioning: Tailored routing, bandwidth, and security policies per client.

Outcomes & Lessons Learned

  • MikroTik is Enterprise-Capable: With the right configuration, MikroTik can support complex ISP-grade services including MPLS and VRFs.
  • Documentation is Critical: Maintaining detailed network diagrams and configuration templates was essential for scaling and troubleshooting.
  • Customer-Centric Design: Building with flexibility in mind allowed us to adapt to diverse customer requirements—from simple internet access to full mesh IPVPNs.

How We Can Help

Whether you’re:

  • Launching a new ISP or WISP,
  • Expanding your network footprint,
  • Integrating wholesale Ethernet or broadband,
  • Or building out MPLS and IPVPN services—

—we bring hands-on experience and proven technical delivery to help you succeed.

Let’s architect your network for growth.

In a future post, I’ll share how we built the core MPLS backbone and integrated wholesale broadband services—laying the groundwork for scalable Ethernet delivery.