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That’s Lisa, saying hi to all of you. She’s super excited, as she has just moved into her new apartment. The only thing that’s intimidating her is the process of setting up a speedy, reliable, and secure internet connection.
She takes in a deep breath and starts researching the internet service providers (ISPs) available in her area. Since she’s an active internet user, she chooses a fiber internet connection.
She gets in touch with the customer service representatives of her chosen fiber internet provider and signs up with the internet plan that meets all her requirements.
Now that she’s ordered her internet service, it’s finally time to set up the equipment.
Lisa decides to rent the modem and router from her ISP. Since she’s super tech-savy, she chooses to connect the modem and router herself.
She connects the ISP’s coaxial cable to the input on the modem.
Next, she attaches one end of the Ethernet cable into her modem and inserts the other end into a port at the back of the router.
Finally, she plugs in the power cables of both modem and router into their respective electrical outlets and switches them on.
Lisa takes a sigh of relief, wipes the beads of perspiration resting on her forehead and opens her laptop to set a unique username and password for her new wireless network.
‘Way to go Lisa,’ she murmurs under her breath while patting herself on the back. She has completed setting up her own wireless network in her new apartment.
Internet for Apartment Considerations
Before you start praising Lisa’s luck and technical skills, let me assure you that she did her complete homework before signing up with an ISP for her new apartment. She analyzed her internet requirements and scheduled a comprehensive call with her property manager. This is how the conversation went:
🙶Hi, my name is Lisa. I work remotely as a data scientist and also manage my personal blog on Instagram. You can call me a mini Instagram Influencer, if you will. Since I greatly rely on the internet to earn my bread and butter, I would prefer to sign up with a fiber internet provider. Do you think I could do so after moving into this apartment?🙷
🙶Hi Lisa, this is Edward. I’ve been managing properties for the last decade and love introducing people to their new homes. Luckily, you’ll find many notable fiber internet providers in this area. Moreover, you’ll be happy to know that the apartment that you’ve chosen is ‘fiber ready’ (meaning it has already been wired for a fiber service). So, you can relax and start packing your suitcases.🙷
Lisa’s life is sorted, thanks to her diligence and research. Now it’s your turn.
Before going ahead and looking for internet for your apartment, ask your property manager, landlord, or broker the following questions:
- Does the apartment building already provide internet and wifi to its residents? If so, is it included in the monthly rent?
- Is the building ‘internet ready’ (meaning is the wiring for internet service already fixed)?
- Are prominent ISPs available near the building?
After getting answers to all these questions, analyze your budget, weigh the pros and cons, and see what option suits you the best. Chances are that you’ll have to get an internet plan on your own as not many buildings include an internet connection as part of the lease. However, if the building already has wiring installed, then you won’t have much trouble setting up the internet by yourself.
Common Types of Internet Connections in Apartments
Done chatting with your landlord?
Great!
If he’s told you that your building is internet-ready, then take a moment and thank your lucky stars. Your task now is to check which internet connection type this pre-wiring supports.
Not familiar with the different connection kinds? Fret not.
The common types of wired internet services that you’ll find in apartment buildings are mentioned below:
Wired Internet for Apartments
Fiber Internet |
Best Features
|
Cable Internet |
Best Features
|
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) |
Best Features
|
I’m sure a lot of people would also end up signing up with apartments with no internal wiring installed. If you’re also a part of that group and don’t feel like spending money on making the apartment internet-ready, simply opt for wireless internet.
Wireless Internet for Apartments
5G Home Internet
5G home internet is a fixed wireless internet service that uses 5G wireless signals from cellphone towers to send internet to your home.
In simpler words, instead of installing wires into your apartment to connect to the internet, you can easily access the cellular network wirelessly using a fixed 5G receiver placed inside or outside your home.
To setup 5G home internet, you’ll need a:
- SIM card
- Modem and router to convert the 5G signals into wifi
Best Features
- Lower latency than 4G
- Improved connectivity
- Simple pricing
- Competitive speeds
- Easy installation
- Freedom from contracts
- Lower costs than other connection types
Preferred Internet Connection for Apartments
Now that you’re aware of both the wired and wireless internet options for apartments, let me give you my two cents.
In the last four years, I’ve changed three apartments.
1 The first one was quite far away from my workplace.
2 The second one was in a region with no prominent ISPs nearby.
3 And the third one had no internal wiring installed.
The entire process of packing everything up and moving to a new place after every 8-9 months was very taxing, and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone. If you want to save yourself from all this trouble, I would advise you to choose a dependable internet connection from the very beginning and make sure that the apartment that you’ve selected has the required wiring installed.
If you were to take my opinion, I would suggest you to opt for ‘fiber ready’ apartments especially if you are an active internet user or a remote worker like Lisa. Why am I saying this?
Well, because this prominent connection type offers extremely reliable and speedy internet with minimal interference, ensuring a silky smooth experience.
Affordable Internet Plans for Apartments: My Top Picks
Why Do I Recommend Kinetic by Windstream?
The reasons mentioned below compelled me to introduce you to this fiber provider:
- Incredible customer support
- Rural connectivity
- No data caps
- Advanced security features
- Affordable Windstream bundles (fiber-backed internet + phone)
Fiber Provider | Cheapest Plan | Starting Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
AT&T Fiber Internet 300 View Plan |
$55/mo.* plus taxes Order Now | Available in 21 States |
*Eligible Autopay & Paperless Bill req’d. *
*Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills). Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. Ltd. avail/areas.
See Broadband Facts: www.att.com/dapbbfacts
Why Do I Recommend AT&T Fiber?
I recommend AT&T because of the following reasons:
- Super-fast speeds
- Incredible wifi experience
- Higher customer satisfaction
- Unlimited data
- No annual contracts
Fiber Provider | Cheapest Plan | Starting Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
Kinetic Fiber 300 Mbps View Plan |
$39.99/mo.* Order Now |
Available in 18 States |
*for 12 mos. with AutoPay
*Price includes a $5.00/mo. discount with AutoPay, option to disable at the next step. Prices may change after the promotional period ends. Taxes & fees extra.
Why Do I Recommend Kinetic By Windstream?
The reasons mentioned below compelled me to introduce you to this fiber provider:
- Incredible customer support
- Rural connectivity
- No data caps
- Advanced security features
If fiber internet isn’t available in your area, then your second-best option would be cable internet. Its amazing download speeds, increased reliability, and wide availability make it an ideal choice.
Found a ‘cable ready’ apartment?
That is awesome.
Check if the cable providers mentioned below are available in your region and sign up for their affordable plans.
Fiber Provider | Cheapest Plan | Starting Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
Connect View Plan |
$19.99/mo.* Order Now |
Available in 40 States |
*For 12 months with 1-year term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. Automatic payments and paperless billing required.
Why Do I Recommend Xfinity?
I would suggest you to opt for Xfinity based on the reasons given below:
- 99.9% reliability
- Wide coverage
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Reliable customer service
- Advanced security features
Fiber Provider | Cheapest Plan | Starting Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
Go Fast View Plan |
$50/mo.* Order Now |
Available in 19 States |
*Everyday low price. No annual contract
Why Do I Recommend Cox?
The reasons mentioned below make Cox Internet a good fit:
- Secure connectivity
- FREE access to more than 4 million wifi hotspots nationwide
- High speed plans
- Incredible bundling options
Tips to Keep Your Apartment Internet Connection Secure
I’m certain that by now you must have chosen your desired apartment based on the internet connection type you need.
What I’m going to tell you now will save you from all the internet security-related concerns that might arise in the future.
Being an active internet user myself, I know the significance of network security. It not only prevents unauthorized users from accessing your wifi network but also creates a barrier that encrypts your sensitive information.
By following the wifi security tips that I’ve mentioned below, you’ll surely be able to keep your apartment internet connection secure:
Encrypt your wifi network by updating your router settings to either WPA3 or WPA2.
Modify your router’s default settings. You can do so by changing the administrative username and password to something hard to guess.
Use a Virtual Private Network. It will secure your network by encrypting your sensitive data and concealing your IP address.
Switch on your router firewall. A firewall safeguards your network against viruses, malware, and also hackers.
Create a guest network with a different username and password. So, the next time someone asks you for your wifi password, simply request them to log into the guest network.
Take into consideration all the important pointers highlighted in this blog, and you’ll surely face no internet related problem while moving into your new apartment. Start packing your bags and have fun setting up your new home!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ‘cable ready’ mean?
Many apartments are ‘cable ready.’ This means that they are pre-wired to receive cable internet. This saves the apartment residents from the hassle of installing wires. They can simply contact the preferred cable provider available in their area and sign up for the plan that meets their requirements.
Can I get fiber optic internet in my apartment?
If the apartment that you’ve chosen is ‘fiber ready’ and has fiber internet providers nearby, then you’ll surely be able to get fiber internet.
Is 5G internet good for apartments?
The quality of the internet connection from a 5G provider greatly depends on the location of your building. If you’re located near a 5G tower, then chances are that you’ll get a speedy and reliable 5G home internet connection.
Check for services and offers available in your area