Managed Services Preferred for Apartment Community Connectivity

Community technology and connectivity continue to take on more importance, more challenges and potentially more revenue for apartment operators.

Recent regulatory trends and guidance are impacting apartment operators’ strategy. On Nov. 1 at the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) OpTech conference in Las Vegas, Steve Sadler, Director, Multifamily Development, RealPage, participated in a panel moderated by Linda Willey, Vice President, Business Services, Camden Property Trust.

Other panelists included Art Hubacher, Managing Member, Hubacher, Ames & Taylor; Joseph Varello, Vice President, Sales, Spectrum Community Solutions; and John Meko, Global Director of Operations, WiredScore.

“Community technology and connectivity has become what we all thought it would – a utility – and not simply an agreement with a specific service provider,” Sadler said. “Managed services is becoming a preferred approach – it’s one network that provides internet connectivity for the entire community, not just the residents in their units.

“It should be more than just resident connectivity, but a network that serves all the required internet connectivity such as Access Control, CCTV, Package Systems, Building Management Systems, Wi-Fi calling, etc. For residents, there’s a changing dynamic on how they consume data and video.

“There’s no more cable TV, residents want reliable high-speed internet connectivity that allows for seamless streaming capability.”

Meko said managed services brings more autonomy to the owner, giving them more control.

“Ubiquity is the key,” said Vallero. “There mustn’t be any gaps in coverage or limitations in the kind of unique spots you find in some communities. A managed services network is a remedy for this. At Spectrum, for example, 85 percent of our cellphone coverage is through managed services Wi-Fi networks.”

Turning Connectivity Challenges into Opportunities

With so many people working from home now, Meko said this presents both huge challenges and opportunities for apartment operators.

Few assets being used today were built for this type of a network, he said. And now, there are operators, such as AvalonBay, who are offering second spaces to their residents that serve as co-working space. Residents are finding places in their communities to work while not having to do so from their apartment homes.

As part of new development, buildings are providing Zoom rooms, phone booths, and are upgrading their business centers so their residents can stay connected no matter where they are in the property.

Sadler said that the network should follow the resident no matter where they are, and at the same speed.

He also brought up that there’s “no such thing as future-proofing a community for broadband services. Technology is changing all the time. My advice is to always add new conduits and pathways to accommodate for this so you can upgrade or even change your provider without having to tear up the property. In design, don’t ever give up any closet space. You’ll need it.”

Connectivity: The Residents Will Check

Sadler said that with a lot of new development, it tends to go overbudget, and developers looking to cut, look at low-voltage systems, so this has a cascading (negative) effect. “But they must build a good network because it can be one that makes them money,” he said.

Given the importance of connection, prospective residents will be checking their phones for connectivity.

To accommodate this, the panel recommended that operators and onsite staff get a guest log-in and password from the provider so touring prospects don’t feel disconnected from the network while walking around.