In today’s world, access to high-quality internet is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Work, education, entertainment, and daily communication depend on reliable, fast connectivity. Yet, tenants in many buildings are often left with poor internet choices, usually due to decisions—or indecisions—made by property owners.

For larger buildings, meaning those around 25 or more units, property owners can no longer afford to pass off this responsibility to traditional providers or rely on managed Wi-Fi systems perfect for corporate or hospitality environments, but inappropriately shoe-horned into apartment buildings. With the right infrastructure investments, property owners can offer tenants a better experience, increase property value, and unlock new, sustainable revenue streams. It’s time for property owners to take action.

Three Approaches to Internet in Multi-Unit Buildings—But Only One Truly Works

When addressing internet access, property owners tend to follow one of three routes. Let’s take a closer look at these paths and why only one provides lasting value.

1. The “Do-Nothing” Route: Letting Phone or Cable Companies Handle It
   This is traditionally the most common approach: property owners take a backseat and let tenants deal directly with cable or phone companies. Sometimes the property will receive a fee from the company, but it’s rarely worth more than 6-12 months of the potential income. While this option minimizes effort on the owner’s part, it results in the poor experiences everyone is familiar with.

   Additionally, cable companies frequently bundle unnecessary services, driving up costs for tenants, while phone-based DSL lines offer speeds far below modern standards. In this scenario, tenants are stuck with limited, frustrating options, and property owners lose the opportunity to enhance tenant satisfaction or increase property value.

2. The Managed Wi-Fi System: A Well-Intentioned but Inadequate Solution
   Some property owners attempt to add value by installing a managed Wi-Fi system throughout the building. Although this sounds promising, these systems often fall short. Signal interference, limited device compatibility, and performance degradation—especially for high-bandwidth users—are common issues.

   Managed Wi-Fi networks also struggle with smart device connectivity, as many cannot log into captive portals, and the lack of public IP addresses restricts flexibility for remote workers or tech-savvy tenants. Additionally, such systems usually can’t comply with simple legal requirements like providing required documentation to consumers and regulators, or serious ones like federal CALEA wiretap requests, which can complicate matters if law enforcement access is required. In the end, these networks become a source of liability and frustration for both tenants and property managers.

3. The Ideal Route: Providing the Complete ISP Service
   Forward-thinking property owners recognize that offering reliable, high-speed internet is not just possible but profitable. By securing an appropriate commercial wholesale fiber connection and investing in affordable low-voltage infrastructure, owners can deliver symmetrical gigabit speeds directly to tenants.

   Advancements in technology make it easier than ever to deploy cost-effective solutions. Ethernet-based equipment and reusing existing coaxial wiring allow owners to avoid large construction costs. This setup empowers tenants with blazing-fast low latency speeds for streaming, gaming, and work-from-home needs—outperforming what phone and cable companies, or managed Wi-Fi offer.

Why Now Is the Time to Act

A decade or two ago, the cost of deploying fiber and ISP engineering was prohibitive, making it difficult for property owners to justify becoming their own internet service providers. But today, those barriers have fallen. Wholesale fiber is more accessible, and the turnkey infrastructure solutions are readily available at reasonable prices.

With internet connectivity now a critical factor for tenants when choosing housing, properties that offer fast, reliable connections stand out in a competitive rental market. Buildings with poor internet options risk higher tenant turnover, while those with exceptional connectivity benefit from increased tenant satisfaction and occupancy rates. Providing high-quality internet is no longer just an amenity—it’s an expectation.

Internet as an Amenity: Unlocking a New Revenue Stream

Offering internet as an amenity doesn’t just satisfy tenants—it can also create a profitable revenue stream for property owners. Including high-speed internet as part of rent, or offering it as an optional service, provides steady cash flow, implicitly or explicitly. With internet as an amenity, owners can guarantee predictable income while giving tenants what they want most—besides the safe living environment itself: a reliable, fast connection. We’re not kidding here, a Fiber Broadband Association survey found 39% of respondents ranked Internet ranked more important to renters than a kitchen, and they would pay higher rent for fiber connectivity.

In addition to generating revenue, internet offerings increase property value. Tenants are more likely to renew leases when they know they have dependable internet access, reducing vacancy rates and associated costs. This combination of tenant satisfaction and financial stability makes investing in internet infrastructure a smart, long-term strategy for property owners.

What Property Owners Must Understand

The message to property owners is simple: quality internet service is now integral to tenant satisfaction, and ignoring this responsibility is no longer acceptable. Relying on cable and phone providers is outdated, and managed Wi-Fi networks rarely meet tenant needs. The technology, infrastructure, and business model for providing high-speed internet directly to tenants is readily available today.

Failing to act not only frustrates tenants but also hurts the bottom line. Dissatisfied tenants leave, vacancies increase and filling them becomes costly. Conversely, a high-speed internet offering becomes a competitive advantage, attracting and retaining tenants while adding value to the property, through your preferred combination of rent increases and/or internet service charges.

If you really think about it, This really isn’t even up to the individual property owner, because as soon as the first big property owner in any market starts offering gigabit fiber internet connectivity to their renters, everyone else is going to have to catch up.

It’s Time for Property Owners to Lead

Property owners face a choice: continue with the status quo—letting traditional providers offer unreliable service or installing inadequate managed Wi-Fi systems—or embrace a better solution by building their own internet infrastructure. The opportunity is clear: providing high-speed internet creates happier tenants, higher occupancy rates, and a new revenue stream that benefits everyone.

There is no longer any excuse not to act. The technology is accessible, the costs are manageable, and the rewards are undeniable. By taking control of their building’s internet, property owners invest not just in an amenity but in the long-term success of their properties.

In a world where connectivity is essential, the question isn’t whether property owners can provide better internet—it’s whether they will.

Brian Higgins, 
Founder and CEO of Aditum Connect