In the evolving landscape of residential real estate, one factor increasingly determines whether a space thrives or falls behind: digital connectivity. For those involved in delivering next-generation coliving, student, retirement, and affordable housing, it's no longer enough to offer "good enough" WiFi. Seamless, secure, and scalable digital infrastructure has become a fundamental standard—comparable to hot water or electricity.
Digital Expectations Are Higher Than Ever
Whether catering to Gen Z students, digitally-native young professionals, or retirees increasingly embracing smart tech, residents now arrive with an unspoken baseline expectation: uninterrupted, lightning-fast WiFi. Connectivity is no longer seen as a luxury or tenant-added service—it’s core to quality of life, community engagement, and property value.
For operators, developers, and investors—from build-to-rent specialists to later living pioneers—meeting this expectation is critical to attracting and retaining residents, supporting ESG goals, and future-proofing assets.
But how do you ensure consistent, building-wide coverage, with minimal maintenance burden and maximum flexibility?
A New Standard: WiFi as a Service
Wifirst’s WiFi as a Service (WaaS) model is designed precisely for the demands of modern coliving and residential environments. Rather than treating connectivity as an afterthought or a capital project, WaaS offers a fully managed, end-to-end connectivity infrastructure, delivered as an operational expense. This model:
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Shifts connectivity from CapEx to OpEx, reducing upfront investment.
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Provides 24/7 user support, reducing pressure on site teams and operators.
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Delivers guaranteed coverage and performance, thanks to building-wide private networks and proactive monitoring.
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Simplifies move-ins and move-outs, with a plug-and-play experience residents expect from consumer tech.
This isn't just about faster streaming. It’s about enabling smart building tech, supporting hybrid working, and allowing communal areas to double as digital collaboration spaces. And it’s about reducing complaints, lowering voids, and improving NPS—factors that drive long-term NOI.
Fibre-Backed Infrastructure Built for Scale
For developments with hundreds of residents—or portfolios scaling across the UK—connectivity has to be robust and future-ready. Wifirst’s Business Fibre solution is built for scalability, offering:
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Symmetrical bandwidth up to 10Gbps, with room to grow.
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A dedicated fibre line, ensuring performance isn’t compromised during peak usage.
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Redundant infrastructure, maintaining uptime and reliability.
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Direct peering with major platforms like Microsoft and Netflix, which means ultra-low latency where it matters most.
This enterprise-grade connectivity backbone supports everything from smart heating controls to building management systems, while also meeting the day-to-day demands of residents who are living, working, studying, and socialising online.
Creating More Than Homes: Building Digital Communities
Coliving is about more than accommodation—it’s about fostering connection. But that connection increasingly begins online. Whether it’s app-based access to community events, real-time maintenance tracking, or simply uninterrupted Teams calls, the digital layer of the resident experience is inseparable from the physical.
By embedding connectivity into the DNA of a building from day one—and handing over the heavy lifting to a specialist partner like Wifirst—owners and operators can focus on what they do best: creating places people love to live.
The New Benchmark
With institutional capital flowing into residential alternatives, standards are rising across the board. From affordability and sustainability to placemaking and wellbeing, expectations are being redefined. It’s time for connectivity to be held to the same standard—not just fast and available, but secure, scalable, and service-led.
If your portfolio is expected to attract and retain digitally-savvy residents, connectivity can’t be an afterthought. It’s a foundation. And like any solid foundation, it should be invisible, reliable, and built to last.
