6 Reasons Multifamily Communities Should Consider Managed Wi-Fi Services

Although managed Wi-Fi options have become a popular choice for multifamily apartment complexes and other multi-dwelling units, plenty of owners are still in the dark and have reservations that keep them from making the switch.

The hesitancy to switch to managed Wi-Fi is often due to the investment, existing cable contracts, or even just not knowing all the details about what this wireless technology offers. As it turns out, many of the reasons why property owners reject managed Wi-Fi are more based in myth than fact.

Let’s look at six great reasons why managed Wi-Fi services should be the top choice for multifamily apartment complexes:

Reason Number 1 - Managed Wi-Fi Is Wi-Fi on Steroids

On the surface, managed Wi-Fi may appear no different than the bring your own technology (BYOT) Wi-Fi or bulk modem Internet options that currently dominate apartment complexes and other MDUs. However, when you look beneath the surface, managed Wi-Fi offers benefits that you simply can’t get from BYOT Wi-Fi or bulk modem Internet.

Internet has become the fourth utility over the past decade; tenants expect it to work and to have uptimes like electricity, gas, and water. Yet, BYOT Wi-Fi and bulk Internet with modems both run into the same issue: overlapping signals and outages.

Here’s the trouble with overlapping signals: If your apartment complex has 100 units and is at 100% occupancy, that means there are 100 routers and modems in proximity. This forces the routers and modems to compete for bandwidth and signal strength, which can create issues. It’s like a highway with only one lane open; congestion is inevitable.

Plus, if you offer bulk Internet and a tenant’s router is on the fritz, they’re out of luck until you get it fixed.

Managed Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is sort of like taking the bulk Internet concept and putting it on steroids. Commercial-grade routers and switches are placed in data closets throughout the residence, and wireless access points (APs) are placed in every unit. This creates a property-wide Wi-Fi environment where you connect to the network once and can access it anywhere on the premises. It also allows residents to take their private LAN with them throughout the property.

BYOT Wi-Fi and Bulk modem Internet restricts access to a resident’s living space, while managed Wi-Fi ensures residents can access the Internet everywhere. Plus, managed Wi-Fi networks are self-healing; if a router or modem goes down, others in the vicinity will fill in the gap.

Reason Number 2 - Managed Wi-Fi Offers a Great ROI

The upfront investment of managed Wi-Fi infrastructure is often a deterrent for MDU property owners and managers. However, managed Wi-Fi offers a great long-term ROI that property owners should consider taking advantage of.

The benefits of increased NOI and lower cap rates far outweigh the upfront costs associated with managed Wi-Fi, making the investment worthwhile.

Managed Wi-Fi will deliver a great ROI when implemented properly, saving you thousands of dollars over the contract term.

Additionally, managed Wi-Fi is an amenity that attracts tenants, making it easier for property owners to fill vacancies. Not only is managed Wi-Fi a superior product for tenants, it also saves them the hassle of having to go out and get Internet on their own. Managed Wi-Fi services also offer higher bandwidth upgrades that residents can purchase, netting property owners a greater profit month after month.

Reason Number 3 - Existing Contracts Aren’t Always Set in Stone

If you’re engaged in an existing agreement with a telecom company or another provider, don’t assume the contract prevents you from offering a better option to your residents.

Truthfully, it depends on your contract and your provider, but these agreements often are not exclusive. If you’re unhappy with the Wi-Fi situation in your apartment complex, consider taking a closer look at your contract. If you’re interested in switching to managed Wi-Fi for your MDU, don’t let this potential non-issue stop you.

Reason Number 4 - Managed Wi-Fi Has Staying Power

Another area of hesitancy for property owners and managers is the fear of the unknown. If you invest in managed Wi-Fi now, could it be made obsolete by technological advances in the next 10 to 20 years?

The great thing about managed Wi-Fi services from companies like DojoNetworks is that they effectively future-proof their offerings. Instead of installing new infrastructure and letting it become dated, DojoNetworks is constantly researching and implementing new technologies.

Part of the cost of managed Wi-Fi is used for software and firmware updates for all the hardware. Think of it like a cellphone getting the latest software updates. These updates not only keep phones functional longer, but they also add improved functionality over time. Without them, your phone would become a paperweight before long.

Managed Wi-Fi companies like DojoNetworks pride themselves on their resident support, and that support includes technological updates. These updates give managed Wi-Fi staying power, ensuring property owners and their tenants will enjoy the service for many years to come.

Reason Number 5 - Residents Love Managed Wi-Fi

It’s common for property owners to avoid managed Wi-Fi because they want to give residents the power to choose their Internet providers. While giving residents the power to choose their own Wi-Fi is admirable, it’s also an easy way for property owners to avoid conflict. They don’t want to be responsible for potentially bad service from an Internet provider, leading to unhappy residents.

However, letting residents pick their own providers doesn’t guarantee happiness. As discussed above, BYOT Wi-Fi in apartment complexes creates a mess of overlapping signals where everyone is fighting for bandwidth. While this may keep tenants from being upset with the property owners, the result is still frustratingly poor Wi-Fi.

Managed Wi-Fi gives property owners the opportunity to have their cake and eat it too. They get to provide excellent Wi-Fi to their tenants, but they don’t bear any responsibility for Wi-Fi issues. Managed Wi-Fi providers like DojoNetworks handle all the maintenance issues, from break/fix services to on-site resolutions when problems can’t be fixed remotely.

Reason Number 6 - Managed Wi-Fi Is the Ultimate IT Staff

Some multifamily owners may prefer to have on-site staff to deploy and manage a Wi-Fi solution. Not only does this sound impressive to residents, but it also ensures Wi-Fi issues can be handled quickly in-house.

However, the cost of employing a good internal IT staff adds up over time, even if it’s just one employee. In the long run, paying the salary of one or multiple IT workers every year will easily surpass the cost of switching to a managed Wi-Fi solution.

Managed Wi-Fi providers can offer excellent resident support remotely and can also fix issues on-site when necessary. It’s the perfect solution for property owners who want to minimize costs while also guaranteeing residents excellent Wi-Fi.

No matter how you slice it, managed Wi-Fi is an excellent option for MDUs.

By Contributor - Todd Thorpe @ DojoNetworks

Email - todd.thorpe@dojonetworks.com

Phone - 608-669-6514

Web - www.dojonetworks.com

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