Essential factors for a successful apartment-wide fiber internet overbuild

Existing properties can face significant challenges in competing when they have sub-par internet service. Amenities that help drive value in a multifamily property, like fiber internet, can make sense to help retain your property’s competitive appeal and realize new financial gains.

It would be unfair if only new construction properties benefit from the latest speed and capacity of fiber internet, leaving many owners and residents of older properties at a disadvantage.

To keep these communities thriving and their residents satisfied, Sarah Jordan, Director of Sales in the east region for Quantum Fiber^® Connected Communities explains, “We focus our strategy and deliverables on several important factors for retrofitting fiber. These include managing costs, installing future-ready bandwidth and speed, and ensuring the internet service matches that of new construction. We customize each property with a fiber-to-the-unit solution and install WiFi equipment for instant activation.”

Essential factors should be carefully considered when property owners and management firms select a fiber internet provider.

• Managing costs: To maximize ROI and future revenue gains, it’s important to keep costs under control. The expenses of labor and the additional time required to ensure quality and aesthetic standards can add up quickly. An experienced fiber provider team is likely to provide accurate estimations, keep material costs within the budget, and can help make a fiber overbuild more affordable than owners may think.
• Quality of work: This directly influences the overall performance, reliability, and overall satisfaction of the residents. High-quality work helps ensure that the fiber network meets or exceeds expectations, while poor design plans and poor implementation work can leave residents with ongoing issues with internet access, creating additional work for building management, and a potential negative reputation for the community.
• Attention to aesthetics: When upgrading a residential building’s internet infrastructure to fiber, it’s critical that the landscaping and building’s appearance is retained. This includes carefully routing cables and equipment to minimize visibility and using existing conduits, risers, and pathways to conceal fiber cables. If new pathways are needed, they should be hidden within walls, ceilings, or behind existing features.
• Speed to completion: The timeframe for an overbuild can be months depending on your provider, the number of units, and the condition and circumstances of the building(s) in question. Jordan notes, “On a recent project, Quantum Fiber completed an overbuild in 180 days. That’s a reasonable amount of time to be done without cutting corners or excessively disrupting residents.”
• Quality of customer service (after the upgrade is complete): Property investors should choose a fiber internet provider that can demonstrate that its service is reliable, provides responsive and knowledgeable support, communicates clearly with leasing staff, and is strongly committed to resident satisfaction.

How does a fiber upgrade work?

A fiber network overbuild can be deployed to give residents access to high-speed internet without relying on the building’s existing telecom infrastructure. Future-proof fiber-to-the-unit (FTTU) overbuild installation offers the same quality internet as new construction, making it a smart investment for now—and the future.

Jordan adds, “It’s crucial to minimize disruption to residents and maintain the aesthetic appeal of the properties. This is where careful design and coordination come into play. We don’t proceed until our clients have approved plans or alterations.”

This will work differently depending on which fiber provider you choose, but the basic process is the same.

• Step 1: Assess current infrastructure: Your provider’s engineers and project managers will work with property managers or owners to analyze what’s currently in place, identify pathways for installing fiber lines, and address any anticipated structural challenges that may arise.
• Step 2: Perform necessary exterior work to bring fiber to the building: This can involve trenching, boring, and installing conduits to bring fiber from the main lines to the property. Your provider should pull out the stops to minimize any inconvenience to your residents, as well take aesthetics into consideration.
• Step 3: Perform interior work to bring fiber to unit: Inside the building, fiber cables are routed to individual units, utilizing existing media panels and pathways whenever possible, and doing whatever is needed to ensure that the work is not unsightly and doesn’t damage the building’s appearance. Each unit is connected to a new, fiber-capable modem, and each connection is thoroughly tested.
• Step 4: Activate the new network: Once the new fiber network is turned on, residents can connect their devices to their updated, in-unit WiFi modems to gain immediate access to high-speed broadband.

Committed to next.

Multifamily owners and operators should not mistake high-speed internet as a ‘nice to have’ amenity. In fact, the 2024 National Multifamily Housing Council Renter Preferences Survey Report found that high-speed internet is a priority for 90% of renters.

Ultra-fast symmetrical speed, reliability, and a secure network with cyber protection are three critical features for residents.

And it is imperative that property owners invest in a connectivity solution that will adapt alongside renter preferences. Amenities like smart lockers, shared workspaces, and connected fitness centers need to be supported by an internet network that can be versatile and scalable for the future.

Jordan explains what ‘committed to next’ means to her and the Quantum Fiber Connected Communities team, “We are always optimizing, always looking toward the future for our clients and their residents and homeowners. As an always-ready partner by your side offering tailored solutions and property value opportunities, we are confident we have the experience, intelligence, and adaptability to lead our client’s fiber overbuild needs and offer ongoing support.”

Check out these related resources:

• What is a good internet option for upgrading apartments?
• Never Too Late: Debunking 4 Common Myths About Fiber-Optic Retrofits
• Modernize your network with Quantum Fiber

More expert insights from Sarah Jordan:

• FAQ: Will I have any upfront costs for this agreement?
• Eight considerations for selecting the right multifamily internet provider