UniFi Switch Pro PoE Lineup — Buy in Lebanon
UniFi Switch Pro PoE: Enterprise PoE Switching for Lebanese Hotels, Offices, and ISPs
Ubiquiti's UniFi Switch Pro PoE family delivers Layer 3 managed switching with high-wattage PoE output, 10G SFP+ uplinks, and tight integration with the UniFi controller ecosystem. For hotels in Beirut deploying dozens of UniFi U6 Pro access points, offices wiring IP phones and surveillance cameras, or ISPs aggregating subscriber traffic, these switches eliminate the need for separate PoE injectors and simplify network management down to a single dashboard.
HI-GAIN stocks the full UniFi Switch Pro PoE lineup at our warehouse in Dora, Beirut. As Lebanon's authorized Ubiquiti distributor since 1990, we provide local warranty, technical support, and same-day pickup for every unit sold. Call us at +961 3 337 666 for current pricing and availability.
The Three UniFi Pro PoE Switches Compared
Ubiquiti offers three Pro-tier PoE switches: the 24-port and 48-port Gen2 models, plus the newer Pro Max 48 with 2.5 GbE ports and Etherlighting. Each targets a different density and performance requirement.
| Specification | USW-Pro-24-PoE | USW-Pro-48-PoE | USW-Pro-Max-48-PoE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Ports | 24 GbE + 2 SFP+ | 48 GbE + 4 SFP+ | 16x 2.5 GbE + 32 GbE + 4 SFP+ |
| PoE+ (802.3at) Ports | 16 | 40 | 32 (8x 2.5G + 24x 1G) |
| PoE++ (802.3bt) Ports | 8 (up to 60W each) | 8 (up to 60W each) | 16 (8x 2.5G + 8x 1G, up to 60W each) |
| Total PoE Budget | 400W | 600W | 720W |
| Switching Capacity | 88 Gbps | 176 Gbps | 224 Gbps |
| Total Non-Blocking Throughput | 44 Gbps | 88 Gbps | 112 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 65.5 Mpps | 131 Mpps | 167 Mpps |
| 10G SFP+ Uplinks | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Layer 3 Routing | Yes (inter-VLAN) | Yes (inter-VLAN) | Yes (inter-VLAN) |
| Etherlighting | No | No | Yes |
| Form Factor | 1U Rackmount | 1U Rackmount | 1U Rackmount |
USW-Pro-48-PoE Gen2: The 600W Workhorse
The USW-Pro-48-PoE Gen2 remains the most deployed UniFi switch in Lebanese hotels and medium-sized offices. Its 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports split into 40 PoE+ ports (up to 30W each) and 8 PoE++ ports (up to 60W each), totaling 600W of PoE budget. Four 10G SFP+ uplinks connect to a core router like the UDM Pro Max or a fiber backbone.
A typical Beirut hotel deployment looks like this: 30 UniFi U6 Pro access points drawing 13W each (390W total), 10 IP cameras at 15W each (150W), and 2 VoIP phones at 7W each (14W). That totals 554W — within the 600W budget with headroom to spare. All powered through a single Ethernet cable per device, eliminating 42 individual PoE injectors and the fire hazard of power strips in ceiling voids.
Layer 3 Features That Matter
The Gen2 Pro switches run Layer 3 inter-VLAN routing in hardware. For a hotel, this means guest WiFi traffic (VLAN 10), staff devices (VLAN 20), IP cameras (VLAN 30), and POS terminals (VLAN 40) all route through the switch without hairpinning through the gateway. This reduces latency on local traffic and offloads processing from the gateway device.
DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and 802.1X port authentication protect against rogue devices — critical in hospitality environments where guests physically access Ethernet jacks.
USW-Pro-24-PoE: Compact PoE for Smaller Sites
The USW-Pro-24-PoE delivers the same Layer 3 features in a 24-port format with 400W PoE budget. It suits offices with 10–20 PoE devices, small retail locations, or branch offices where 48 ports would be overkill. Sixteen PoE+ ports and eight PoE++ ports cover most deployment needs. Two 10G SFP+ uplinks provide sufficient backbone capacity for a site under 200 users.
Lebanese law offices, medical clinics, and coworking spaces in Hamra, Ashrafieh, and Verdun frequently deploy the 24-port model. It powers ceiling-mounted APs, a handful of cameras, and a VoIP system without needing a second switch.
USW-Pro-Max-48-PoE: 2.5 GbE and Etherlighting
The USW-Pro-Max-48-PoE is Ubiquiti's latest flagship switch, adding 16 ports of 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and Etherlighting technology to the Pro lineup. The 720W PoE budget is the highest in the UniFi switch family, and the 224 Gbps switching capacity handles the increased bandwidth from 2.5 GbE ports without bottlenecks.
Why 2.5 GbE Matters
WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E access points like the U6 Pro can push aggregate throughput beyond 1 Gbps. When connected to a standard Gigabit port, the switch becomes the bottleneck. The Pro Max's 2.5 GbE ports solve this by providing 2.5x the backhaul bandwidth per AP. Connect your highest-traffic access points — lobby, conference room, event hall — to the 2.5 GbE ports and leave the standard 1G ports for cameras and phones.
Etherlighting: Visual Port Identification
Etherlighting illuminates each port LED to indicate connection speed, link status, and native VLAN assignment. In a dense patch panel with 48 cables, this feature saves technicians significant time when tracing cables. The LED color and pattern are configurable per-port from the UniFi controller — a practical advantage during after-hours maintenance when reading labels is difficult.
PoE Planning for Lebanese Deployments
Power delivery over Ethernet is especially valuable in Lebanon where adding new electrical circuits is expensive and sometimes structurally impossible in older buildings. PoE switches centralize power distribution, making UPS protection straightforward: place the switch and its UPS in the server room, and every connected AP, camera, and phone stays online during power outages.
PoE Budget Calculation Example: Beirut Office Tower
| Device | Qty | PoE Draw per Unit | Total Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| UniFi U6 Pro AP | 20 | 13W (PoE+) | 260W |
| IP Camera (4K) | 12 | 25W (PoE++) | 300W |
| VoIP Phones | 10 | 7W (PoE) | 70W |
| Total | 42 | 630W |
This scenario requires the USW-Pro-Max-48-PoE (720W budget) or the USW-Pro-48-PoE (600W) with one or two cameras moved to a secondary switch. The Pro Max handles it with 90W of headroom, which accounts for PoE negotiation overhead and future expansion.
Connecting to the UniFi Ecosystem
All three switches integrate with UniFi Network for centralized management. Pair them with a UDM Pro Max as the gateway and controller, and you manage switching, routing, WiFi, and security cameras from a single interface. The 10G SFP+ uplinks on these switches connect directly to the UDM Pro Max's SFP+ ports using Ubiquiti DAC cables — no transceivers needed for short rack-to-rack runs.
For sites that already run a UCG Ultra as their controller, these switches adopt into that controller instance without any changes. The UCG Ultra's 2.5G WAN port handles up to 1 Gbps of IPS-inspected traffic, making it a cost-effective controller for small to mid-size deployments.
Which UniFi Pro PoE Switch for Your Lebanon Deployment?
- Small office, clinic, retail (under 20 PoE devices): USW-Pro-24-PoE — 400W budget, 24 ports, 2x 10G SFP+.
- Hotel, office tower, school (20–45 PoE devices): USW-Pro-48-PoE Gen2 — 600W budget, 48 ports, 4x 10G SFP+.
- High-density venue with WiFi 6 APs and 4K cameras (needs 2.5G backhaul): USW-Pro-Max-48-PoE — 720W budget, 16x 2.5 GbE, Etherlighting.
Browse the full UniFi product catalog for Lebanon or check real-time stock and pricing at HI-GAIN.