The trajectory of home broadband has been, quite simply, astonishing. From a rarefied luxury to the ‘fourth utility’, internet in the home has fundamentally changed almost every aspect of our lives.
It’s led many to call for broadband connections to be installed and available instantly in all new homes and apartments, much like how mains water and gas are connected – an argument that grows only stronger by the day with the emergence of the Internet of Things.
The Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses your smart light bulbs, Chromecast television, wireless kettle, smart thermostat and more. It’s a rapidly growing sector, but perhaps most importantly for those building to rent, 86% of millennial renters willing to pay more for homes with smart technologies built in. Clearly, these kinds of interconnected technologies are increasingly important in snagging higher prices for your rental accommodation.
But what underpins the Internet of Things? The answer, of course, is robust broadband and WiFi. It’s the foundation which allows the IoT not only to exist but to function in the magical, borderline game-changing way it often does.
When connectivity is inconsistent or coverage lets you down, those smart devices act pretty dumbly and if you’re renting a property on the basis of advanced smart technologies, it’s a situation you seriously need to avoid.
It’s for that reason that more and more tenants and building firms are investing heavily in built-in WiFi solutions for the private rental sector, like those offered by Airangel. The benefits for the landlord is simple: a branded, high-quality, hands-off WiFi solution which they can bundle into their rental offering to push for a premium price that enables the smart home lifestyle that younger renters desire.
For the renter, the benefits are plentiful too. From consistently high speeds and instant and day one connectivity to enhanced security and stability, there are lots to love about a managed WiFi solution. However going forward, it’s most important that your managed WiFi service is built with the future in mind.
Specifically, the rental sector WiFi offered by Airangel includes the provision of individual private networks for each apartment.
Whilst this might not seem revolutionary, or even necessary, it’s a feature that is designed to enable the Internet of Things in every single apartment.
Products like Google’s Chromecast, Phillips Hue lightbulbs and Nest’s smart thermostat require private wireless networks to connect our phones and each other. In a building which makes use of a single, shared wireless network, these kinds of IoT technologies can’t function.
It’s just another reason why WiFi needs to be carefully considered before it’s implemented, and how Airangel can help you bring your plans to fruition.
