Mikrotik netPower 15FR

If you are an Internet Service Provider (ISP), Wireless ISP (WISP), or Managed Service Provider (MSP) servicing Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) like apartment complexes, dormitories, or office buildings, you know the struggle: GPON architecture is expensive.

Enter MikroTik’s GPEN (Gigabit Passive Ethernet Network) Concept and the flagship netPower 15FR switch (CRS318-1Fi-15Fr-2S-OUT). GPEN delivers fiber-like versatility, speed, and tenant isolation using proven, low-cost Ethernet infrastructure—slashing CapEx and OpEx simultaneously.

What is the MikroTik GPEN Concept?

The core idea behind GPEN is simple: Cut costs, not speed.

Instead of deploying active optical equipment or running expensive AC power lines to attics, basements, and riser shafts, GPEN leverages Reverse PoE (rPoE).

How GPEN Works:

1. Tenant-Powered Infrastructure: Inside each customer’s apartment, you install a small, wall-mountable power injector like the GPEN11 or smart GPEN21.

2. Reverse PoE (rPoE): The customer’s power adapter feeds power back through the Cat5e/6 cable up into a centralized building switch, such as the netPower 15FR.
3. No Building Utility Power Required: The netPower switch runs seamlessly even if only a single tenant is connected and powered on.
4. Fiber Backbone Uplink: The netPower switch connects back to your core network using high-speed SFP fiber modules or Point-to-Point wireless links.

The ROI Result: You completely eliminate building utility power agreements, dedicated electrical work, battery backup UPS costs in riser closets, and expensive GPON OLT/ONT hardware.

Why choose the CRS318-1Fi-15Fr-2S-OUT

Unlike traditional outdoor switches, the CRS318 was specifically engineered for service providers deploying Ethernet over long distances.

Key capabilities include:

• 15 Reverse PoE Ethernet ports
• 2 SFP fiber uplink ports
• Outdoor weather-resistant enclosure
• Dual boot with RouterOS or SwOS
• Reverse PoE architecture
• Low power consumption
• Designed for outdoor utility cabinets, poles, shafts, and apartment risers

The switch features 16 Fast Ethernet ports (15 reverse PoE plus one PoE-out port), 2 SFP uplinks, dual boot (SwOS/RouterOS), and an outdoor-rated enclosure, making it suitable for distributed access deployments.

Use Cases

1. High-Rise Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) & Apartment Complexes

• The Problem: Retrofitting older MDU buildings with fiber-to-the-unit (FTTH) is cost-prohibitive due to core drilling, complex fiber runs, and negotiating utility power in shared closets.

• The GPEN Solution: Use existing Cat5e/6 copper cabling in the building riser. Install netPower 15FR switches on floor distribution points. Feed each switch using dual 1G SFP fiber down to the basement core router. Deploy a GPEN11 or GPEN21 in every single apartment

Ideal customers:

• Apartment developers
• Property management companies
• Broadband ISPs

2. Brownfield WISP Roof-to-Tenant Distribution

• The Problem: WISPs often drop a massive 60GHz or Point-to-Point wireless link onto a building roof (e.g., using a MikroTik Wireless Wire Dish), but struggled to distribute that bandwidth down to tenants without paying for roof/attic electrical drops.

• The GPEN Solution: Mount a netPower 15FR directly on the rooftop mast or attic wall using the included hose clamps. Connect the rooftop wireless dish to Ether15 (which offers PoE-Out to power the antenna). Run Ethernet down to tenants' apartments, where their GPEN11 injectors reverse-power the netPower switch and the rooftop radio simultaneously!

3. Student Housing, Dormitories & Hospitality

• The Problem: High density, extreme bandwidth consumption, and frequent tenant turnover. Managed service providers need isolation per room to stop local network snooping.

• The GPEN Solution: Deploy netPower 15FR switches coupled with GPEN21 smart injectors. By using SwOS/RouterOS features on the GPEN21 and netPower, you get hardware-level VLAN isolation per room, traffic shaping to prevent bandwidth hogging, and SNMP reporting to monitor link health.

4. Sprawling Industrial Parks, Mines & Outdoor Campuses

• The Problem: Distance limitations of standard Ethernet 100m make wiring large industrial estates, mines, or outdoor security networks difficult without adding expensive power junctions.

• The GPEN Solution: Pair the netPower 15FR with GPeR units inside IP67/IP68 weather-proof enclosures. You can push Gigabit Ethernet and power up to 1,500 meters using daisy-chained GPeR units without needing a single intermediate power outlet along the way.