diff --git a/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/mbed-mesh-api/WisunBorderRouter.h b/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/mbed-mesh-api/WisunBorderRouter.h
index 910a9b7242..b918a9b1ad 100644
--- a/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/mbed-mesh-api/WisunBorderRouter.h
+++ b/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/mbed-mesh-api/WisunBorderRouter.h
@@ -86,6 +86,21 @@ public:
      * \return MESH_ERROR_NONE on success.
      * \return MESH_ERROR_UNKNOWN in case of failure.
      * */
+    mesh_error_t start(WisunInterface *mesh_if, NetworkInterface *backbone_if);
+
+    /**
+     * \brief Start Wi-SUN Border Router
+     *
+     * Starts Wi-SUN Border Router and routing between the mesh and backbone interfaces. Network interfaces
+     * must be initialized and connected before calling the start. Backbone interface can be either Ethernet
+     * (EMAC) or Cellular.
+     *
+     * \param mesh_if Wi-SUN mesh network interface
+     * \param backbone_if Backbone network interface
+     * \return MESH_ERROR_NONE on success.
+     * \return MESH_ERROR_UNKNOWN in case of failure.
+     * */
+    MBED_DEPRECATED_SINCE("mbed-os-5.15.8", "Using NetworkInterface type for mesh_if is deprecated, use WisunInterface instead")
     mesh_error_t start(NetworkInterface *mesh_if, NetworkInterface *backbone_if);
 
     /**
@@ -100,6 +115,21 @@ public:
      * \return MESH_ERROR_NONE on success.
      * \return MESH_ERROR_UNKNOWN in case of failure.
      * */
+    mesh_error_t start(WisunInterface *mesh_if, OnboardNetworkStack::Interface *backbone_if);
+
+    /**
+     * \brief Start Wi-SUN Border Router
+     *
+     * Starts Wi-SUN Border Router and routing between the mesh and backbone interfaces. Mesh network interface
+     * must be initialized and connected before calling the start. Backbone OnboardNetworkStack::Interface must
+     * be brought up before calling the start. Backbone interface can be either Ethernet (EMAC) or Cellular (PPP).
+     *
+     * \param mesh_if Wi-SUN mesh network interface
+     * \param backbone_if Backbone OnboardNetworkStack::Interface interface
+     * \return MESH_ERROR_NONE on success.
+     * \return MESH_ERROR_UNKNOWN in case of failure.
+     * */
+    MBED_DEPRECATED_SINCE("mbed-os-5.15.8", "Using NetworkInterface type for mesh_if is deprecated, use WisunInterface instead")
     mesh_error_t start(NetworkInterface *mesh_if, OnboardNetworkStack::Interface *backbone_if);
 
     /**
diff --git a/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/source/WisunBorderRouter.cpp b/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/source/WisunBorderRouter.cpp
index b38301aeab..84688094ac 100644
--- a/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/source/WisunBorderRouter.cpp
+++ b/features/nanostack/mbed-mesh-api/source/WisunBorderRouter.cpp
@@ -40,8 +40,17 @@ mesh_error_t WisunBorderRouter::start(NetworkInterface *mesh_if, NetworkInterfac
         return MESH_ERROR_PARAM;
     }
 
-    InterfaceNanostack *nano_mesh_if = reinterpret_cast<InterfaceNanostack *>(mesh_if);
-    int8_t mesh_if_id = nano_mesh_if->get_interface_id();
+    WisunInterface *wisun_mesh_if = reinterpret_cast<WisunInterface *>(mesh_if);
+    return start(wisun_mesh_if, backbone_if);
+}
+
+mesh_error_t WisunBorderRouter::start(WisunInterface *mesh_if, NetworkInterface *backbone_if)
+{
+    if (mesh_if == NULL || backbone_if == NULL) {
+        return MESH_ERROR_PARAM;
+    }
+
+    int8_t mesh_if_id = mesh_if->get_interface_id();
     if (mesh_if_id < 0) {
         return MESH_ERROR_UNKNOWN;
     }
@@ -71,10 +80,24 @@ mesh_error_t WisunBorderRouter::start(NetworkInterface *mesh_if, NetworkInterfac
     return MESH_ERROR_NONE;
 }
 
+
 mesh_error_t WisunBorderRouter::start(NetworkInterface *mesh_if, OnboardNetworkStack::Interface *backbone_if)
 {
-    InterfaceNanostack *nano_mesh_if = reinterpret_cast<InterfaceNanostack *>(mesh_if);
-    int8_t mesh_if_id = nano_mesh_if->get_interface_id();
+    if (mesh_if == NULL || backbone_if == NULL) {
+        return MESH_ERROR_PARAM;
+    }
+
+    WisunInterface *wisun_mesh_if = reinterpret_cast<WisunInterface *>(mesh_if);
+    return start(wisun_mesh_if, backbone_if);
+}
+
+mesh_error_t WisunBorderRouter::start(WisunInterface *mesh_if, OnboardNetworkStack::Interface *backbone_if)
+{
+    if (mesh_if == NULL || backbone_if == NULL) {
+        return MESH_ERROR_PARAM;
+    }
+
+    int8_t mesh_if_id = mesh_if->get_interface_id();
     if (mesh_if_id < 0) {
         return MESH_ERROR_UNKNOWN;
     }