Fiber Emerges as a Standout Choice for Broadband Infrastructure in Multifamily Living

It’s more than widespread adoption; fiber technology is gaining steam for many reasons.

A version of this story was originally published on GlobeSt.com.

Real estate developers and owners face multiple options to enhance properties, ultimately aiming to increase value for residents—and their assets. Specifically, broadband technologies have become essential to satisfy work-from-home and related needs. It is crucial for a multifamily owner/operator or developer to assess which technologies best match that demand.

Fiber’s emergence as a leading choice, connecting more than 50% of residences as of 2023, makes it the preferred connectivity technology for almost two-thirds of all internet users, outpacing both cable and wireless, and adding on average, 4.9% to a home’s value. Its benefits stretch beyond just widespread adoption, says Michael Janssen, a Quantum Fiber^® Connected Communities senior manager of sales engineering.

Michael Janssen, senior manager of sales engineering, Quantum Fiber

Competing Technologies Face Careful Deliberations

According to Janssen, property developers and owners must carefully evaluate the myriad broadband technologies available today.

“Fixed wireless can have fast speed, but there can be signal degradation from interference by surrounding objects,” he says, especially in rural or expansive properties. “And cable providers typically don’t have symmetrical speeds, which means upload speed can be significantly slower that download speed in many cases.” Additionally, satellite delivery can be regularly impacted by weather, resulting in connectivity latency.

But Janssen says that fiber-to-the-home/unit is delivering fast symmetrical speed on most plans while providing reliability and low latency. This benefits real-time applications, ranging from online gaming to video conferencing, creating advantages for multifamily operators or homebuilders.

As a result, fiber is emerging as a top-tier option and is being adopted rapidly by many property owners and developers.

“If you look at multifamily owners, partnering with the right fiber internet provider allows them to keep up with technological advancements, helping give them that competitive edge to attract and retain new residents.”

Fiber’s Lifespan Adds Advantages

Property developers are also attracted to fiber technology’s endurance, spanning 20 to 40 years, which Janssen notes provides high-speed capabilities for customers with the ability to upgrade without replacing, which is needed with copper cabling.

Janssen points to fiber’s longevity, which helps reduce the need to replace infrastructure and equipment, a frequent requirement with other internet technologies. He explains it also minimizes ecological damage because of its relatively low energy consumption, long lifespan, and future capabilities.

He notes that alternatives, such as using existing wiring, lock the owner into outdated technology that may leave the property behind.

“Generally speaking, a fiber network is the right fit for a lot of properties based on versatility and future scalability,” says Janssen.

Mitigating Costs, Disruption Increases Fiber’s Appeal

The cost of installing fiber has daunted developers and owners/operators in the past, but internet service providers (ISPs) such as Quantum Fiber are working closely with property owners to minimize and even eliminate upfront costs.

“We form agreements with our clients. For ISPs like Quantum Fiber, through these agreements we can absorb some or most of the capital costs in order to serve the community over time,” notes Janssen.

Janssen says that even in older buildings, fiber-to-the-unit remains an optimal solution, pleasing residents and keeping the building competitive with a new construction property.

“We help multifamily owners maximize long-term value and by tailoring their fiber infrastructure. Whether in a new community or upgrading existing buildings, we can install solutions where residents can walk into their home, sign up, and be instantly connected,” says Janssen. 

Check out these related resources:

• Why Apartment Owners Should Know the Tech Driving Their Building’s Internet
• The Top 3 Internet Features Modern Multifamily Properties Need for a Premium Internet Amenity
• Is your multifamily building ready for smart technology?

More expert insights from Mike Janssen:

• Fiber 101: What to expect when installing fiber in your multifamily community
• FAQ: Why should I focus on fiber when up to 10G speeds are available using copper?
• Tech analysis: Broadband solutions matter for multifamily prestige