What is community WiFi?
Collective WiFi, also known as shared WiFi or "Community WiFi", is a network architecture enabling all occupants of a building to access the Internet via a single, professional infrastructure. Unlike the classic residential model (one box per apartment), community WiFi centralizes connectivity on a dedicated fiber optic link, managed end-to-end by a specialized operator like Wifirst.
This solution has become the standard for multi-tenant environments: student residences, hotels, healthcare establishments (EHPAD), social housing or even coliving buildings. It guarantees every user secure, high-performance and immediate access, without the constraints of individual subscription.
Why opt for a collective WiFi solution?
In a world where connectivity is considered an essential fluid (just like water or electricity), collective WiFi provides property managers with a technological and economic solution.
1. Economic optimization and CSR
The shared model enables significant economies of scale (often 30% to 50% less expensive than the sum of individual subscriptions). What's more, by doing away with hundreds of energy-hungry individual boxes, collective WiFi drastically reduces the building's digital carbon footprint, as part of a virtuous CSR approach.
2. Enterprise" quality of service
The infrastructure deployed by Wifirst (6/7 WiFi hotspots, managed switches, dedicated fiber) offers much higher performance than consumer equipment. Proactive supervision guarantees stable, symmetrical speeds, essential for telecommuting or 4K streaming.
3. Zero management for the operator
As a delegated operator, Wifirst takes charge of 100% of the network's life cycle: audit, deployment, legal compliance (HADOPI, anti-terrorism) and customer relations. This means fewer technical tickets for your teams, and total peace of mind for the operator.
Did you know? Collective WiFi enhances the value of your real estate assets. A building with the "Broadband" label rents out faster and retains its occupants better.
4. User experience "just like home
No more delays in opening a line! With collective WiFi, connection is immediate on arrival. Thanks to our "Room Area Network" technology, each resident has their own secure private network, as if they had their own box, to connect their objects (printer, Chromecast, home automation) in total security.
The benefits of Wifirst technology
For over 20 years, Wifirst has been innovating to transform collective WiFi into a premium experience. Our approach is based on three exclusive technical pillars:
Dedicated Fiber Optics (FTTO/FTTH Pro)
We connect each residence with a customized fiber optic link. Unlike consumer offerings, our links guarantee stable bandwidth even at peak times (evenings in student residences, mornings in hotels).
Room Area Network: a major innovation
The end of insecure public WiFi. Wifirst has invented a technology that creates a dynamic private network for each room. Students or residents can see their own devices and have them communicate with each other (e.g., launch a video from their smartphone to their TV), while being totally isolated from their neighbors. It's the comfort of home with the power of community.
Contractual flexibility
Our offers adapt to the type of occupant:
- Long-stay : Subscription included in charges, automatic connection without reconnection.
- Short stay: Simplified captive portal, temporary codes or purchase of passes on demand.
Deploy a collective WiFi project with Wifirst
Our industrial methodology guarantees frictionless deployment, whether for new construction or renovation (rewiring).
- Radio audit and engineering: Our experts come to your site to carry out a coverage study (Ekahau) and define the optimal location of terminals for 100% coverage.
- Turnkey deployment: Our technical teams take care of everything: cable pulling, equipment installation, fiber connection and switch configuration.
- Commissioning and acceptance: We carry out rigorous load tests to validate compliance with service level agreements (SLAs).
- 24/7 supervision and support: Once the network is up and running, our supervision center (NOC) monitors the equipment. A dedicated hotline (based in France) helps end-users connect their equipment (consoles, PCs, smartphones).
Collective WiFi is much more than a convenience: it's the foundation of Smart Building services. By choosing Wifirst, you are opting for the leading B2B operator in Europe, capable of combining technological innovation (WiFi 7, AI) with human proximity. Give your residents the connection experience they deserve.
"On this large-scale project, our need was clear: to benefit from a solid infrastructure capable of absorbing the needs of our holidaymakers and teams. As a true partner, Wifirst supported us throughout the project, right from the construction phase, a decisive phase for this village spread over 24 hectares."
Yoann Spadavecchia
IT Director, Club Med
"The proximity with Wifirst's technical and sales teams means we benefit from a responsive service that is constantly adapted to our needs. "
Yorick Poussin
IT Manager, Domaine des Ormes
"We were won over by the Wifirst solution, which gives our establishments a genuine technical foundation on which all digital services can be grafted."
Guillaume Renaudin
Group IT Director Europe, The Ascott Limited