What is Managed WiFi & Should You Get it?

Managed WiFi can deliver a better resident experience, improve efficiency for site teams, and add a revenue stream for owners/operators.

What is Managed Wi-Fi, Exactly?

Managed Wi-Fi is a connectivity solution designed for managing high-speed Wi-Fi access across large commercial buildings or residential complexes. It uses a centralized management system and service, rather than multiple independent Wi-Fi access points. This approach solves many connectivity issues common in multifamily communities, where multiple, competing access points can make connections slower and less reliable. With Managed WiFi, all internet access points are managed in one place to optimize coverage and connectivity for residents.

How Most WiFi Systems Operate

Most renters use retail or bulk WiFi, but as managed WiFi improves, more renters want it—and more owners/operators are investing in it. Unmanaged options like retail and bulk WiFi don’t work as well.

Retail WiFi

With retail WiFi, every resident chooses their own internet provider and has their own network and access point. Property managers may also provide access points for communal areas. Because retail WiFi is unmanaged, every access point works independently, causing signals to overlap and interfere, leading to connectivity issues. Residents and staff must manually switch networks when moving around the community, risking dead zones.

Bulk WiFi

Bulk WiFi provides all residents and staff with internet service from the same provider, often at a lower price. However, contracts can be long-term, and connectivity issues persist because access points are still unmanaged, leading to interference and dead zones.

Managed WiFi can solve many of these quality issues.

Managed WiFi Options

There are two types of managed WiFi: legacy managed WiFi and modern managed WiFi.

Legacy Managed WiFi

Legacy managed WiFi involves residents sharing access points, typically located in hallways and spaced two to five units apart. This setup avoids flooding the building with competing signals but can be problematic for residents who want to plug devices into a router in their own apartment. It also places multiple residents on the same network with shared login credentials, presenting security risks and potential dead spots.

Modern Managed WiFi

Modern managed WiFi gives every resident their own access point in the apartment, allowing them to plug in devices if they wish. WiFi signals are managed digitally, delivering more reliable connections and minimizing interference.

Community WiFi: The Next Evolution

Community WiFi builds on modern managed WiFi, offering:

• ​Automatic access upon move-in and removal on move-out
• ​Easy onboarding and management of IoT devices
• ​Private networks for residents, staff, guests, and IoT devices, each with their own login
• ​Seamless roaming throughout the community

With Community WiFi, handoff between access points happens in the background, allowing uninterrupted connectivity as residents and staff move around the property.

How Do Managed WiFi Access Points Work?

An access point is equipment that sends and receives WiFi signals to and from devices. The closer a device is to an access point, the better the signal. In unmanaged setups, overlapping signals cause interference. Managed WiFi coordinates access points to avoid interference and organize device handoffs, enabling seamless connectivity as people move around the community.

Main Benefits of Managed WiFi

Modern managed WiFi offers several benefits for owners/operators:

• ​Additional revenue opportunity: Secure internet service at a low price and charge residents more to generate profit.
• ​Maximize other proptech solutions: Smart apartments, access control, mobile maintenance, self-guided tours, and parking management all improve with excellent managed WiFi.
• ​Attract and retain residents: Renters are willing to pay more for managed WiFi and tend to recommend it more than other forms of WiFi.

Comparison: Managed WiFi vs. Unmanaged WiFi

Both unmanaged and modern managed WiFi have an access point in every unit and solid security. The main difference is performance: managed WiFi offers better connectivity due to less interference. Managed WiFi is easier to scale and often provides greater revenue opportunities. Community WiFi delivers seamless connection anywhere on the property.

Is Managed WiFi Secure?

Modern managed WiFi is secure. Each resident, guest, and staff member has unique login credentials, keeping them on their own private network. Community WiFi is even more secure, as users stay on their own network while moving between access points. Legacy managed WiFi is less secure due to shared networks and credentials.

Buyer’s Guide: Should You Install Managed WiFi?

Managed WiFi requires significant upfront investment and careful planning. Owners/operators should analyze the local internet market to ensure enough residents will adopt the service to make it worthwhile. Exclusive provider status increases chances of success, but local regulations and 5G availability may affect this. Consult with other owners/operators, local providers, and residents before deciding.

Which Properties and Buildings Benefit Most?

Managed WiFi is most beneficial for properties with many people and IoT devices needing WiFi:

Multi-dwelling Units (MDUs)

Multifamily communities, especially larger ones, benefit greatly. Highrise communities typically have lower infrastructure costs than garden-style communities.

Hotels

Hotels benefit from managed WiFi for guest connectivity and IoT device management. Staff can use mobile maintenance and guest-management systems across the property.

College Dorms

Connectivity and security are critical for students. Community WiFi allows automatic access at move-in and removal at move-out.

Offices

Offices with open areas and meeting spaces require seamless connectivity. Managed WiFi supports smart access control and video-call equipment.

Who Should Not Get Managed WiFi?

Small properties or single-family communities may not benefit as much. If few residents would adopt the service, or if you have a long-term exclusive contract with a provider, managed WiFi may not be worthwhile.

How to Find the Best Managed WiFi Partner

When choosing a partner, ask:

• ​Can they handle a project your size?
• ​Can they deliver a reliable connection and great experience?
• ​Is onboarding frictionless for residents and devices?
• ​Do they offer 24/7 customer and tech support?
• ​Can they integrate with your property management system for automatic access granting and removal?

Drawbacks of Managed WiFi

• ​Large upfront investment, especially if you don’t own infrastructure
• ​Potentially long exclusive contracts with providers
• ​Possible resident pushback against exclusive provider status or installation inconvenience

Educate residents about the benefits and work with your partner to minimize disruption during installation.

Is Managed WiFi Right for Your Community?

Managed WiFi offers the best resident experience, revenue opportunities, and efficiency for multifamily communities compared to retail and bulk WiFi. However, it requires careful planning and investment. Consider Community WiFi for an even better experience, and choose a reliable partner to help plan, deploy, and support your project.