If you are planning to move into an apartment complex, don’t get caught out with subpar internet that will drive you up the wall! To avoid any surprises, there are some important considerations that are specific to apartment dwellers that you should look into before you sign your lease. This article will look at:
- Apartments with internet included in the rent
- Types of internet connections in apartments
- Internet speed
- Security
- Finding the right plan
Internet included in your rent
If you have been advised that the internet is included in your rent, you might be celebrating the fact that you have just avoided a lot of hassle. The easiest path is definitely to stick with the connection that comes with your apartment and avoid all the internet provider comparisons and time-consuming shopping around, not to mention waving goodbye to your monthly internet bill.
This is certainly an option, but proceed with caution! We recommend asking a few questions upfront to make sure you are getting what you expect.
You should ask your agent or landlord which internet service provider (ISP) is used, what type of internet connection is available and what speeds you can expect. Building internet is notorious for being slow and impacted by network congestion and lag, so you might have to dig a bit deeper on this one – the maximum speed you are quoted might not be representative of the speeds that are actually achieved. You can learn more about the impacts on speed here.
You should also ask about the security in place because shared networks are particularly susceptible to breaches.
If it turns out the included internet doesn’t meet your requirements, you should also ask if it’s possible to opt out. The key thing to be sure of is that you won’t be paying for two internet connections if you want to set up your own account.
Types of internet connection
It is quite likely that the internet will not be included in your rent. If this is the case, you are free to find an ISP that suits your needs and is within your budget. However, being in an apartment building will probably restrict your choices.
The first step is to find out what type of internet is available in the building. To find out if your new address is NBN ready, you can either ask your agent or use the NBN address checker.
The NBN address checker will also tell you which type of NBN connection is available in your building. For larger apartment complexes, it will usually be a fibre-to-the-node (FTTN), fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) or fibre-to-the-building (FTTB) connection.
These types of connections use high-speed fibre optic cables to deliver internet to a node either in your street or outside your building, and then existing copper cables connect from the node to a wall socket in your apartment.
Due to the use of copper cables, FTTB, FTTN and FTTC are considered slightly slower than fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connections, which use fibre optics all the way to your home. This could be a consideration if you need ultra-fast internet for gaming or 4K streaming. However, if you decide to make the move to the NBN, it is important to note that every NBN connection type delivers speeds that are more than sufficient for everyday internet activities, including streaming high-definition content, downloading large files and video calling.
If NBN is not available or you are interested in a home wireless broadband option, you can check with your service provider to find out if 5G is available in the area. And the good news is that 4G is now available almost everywhere. (Note – home 5G and 4G plans are different to your mobile network, we are not suggesting you spend your days hotspotting!)
There may also be other cable broadband options available if the NBN or 5G are not yet in your area.
It might be possible to talk to your landlord or agent about upgrading the internet connection to your home so that you can access better broadband. Your landlord is under no obligation to carry out the work unless it is specified in your lease, so if you are promised something, make sure you get it in writing.
Internet speeds
What all this talk about connection types is really getting at is the speed you will be able to get in your home. Slow internet speeds are frustrating, and if you are working from home, they can really impact your productivity.
Once you know the type of connection available, you can look at the different plans on offer in your area to find a speed that will meet your requirements.
The download speed you need will depend on how many people are in your household, plus the type of activities you need the internet for. If you are working from home or gaming, a fast upload speed might also be important. The below list gives you an idea of the speed you should look for in your plan.
| Speed | Requirements |
| 0 – 5 Mbps |
|
| 5 – 40 Mbps |
|
| 40 – 100 Mbps |
|
| 100 – 500 Mbps |
|
| 500 – 1,000+ Mbps |
|
Security
There are two security risks you want to avoid if you are connected to the internet in an apartment: internet ‘borrowers’ and hackers.
Internet borrowers
Internet borrowers are your seemingly friendly neighbors who see no harm in connecting to your Wifi when they see the network pop up on their own devices. This can cause your internet to run slower as more demand is put on the connection.
To avoid people helping themselves, you should change the password from the default to make sure it is password protected.
You should be able to see which devices are connected to your network through your internet provider or router. Usually, this will be done through an app. If you notice some unknown devices on there, change your password immediately and reset the router.
For security best practice, you can go the extra mile and set up a guest connection. You can usually do this through an app from your ISP. This means you can offer friends and family a WiFi connection without compromising the security of your main home network.
Hackers
If you are on a shared network as part of your building, you could be at risk of security breaches. Your device will be exposed to other users on the network, making you vulnerable to attacks.
To protect yourself, you can use your own personal router on the shared network, either by connecting to one of the LAN ports on the building’s router with an ethernet cable or via a WiFi bridge. You can then create your own password-protected network from your router.
For further protection, you should use multi-factor authentication for all your accounts and make sure your firewalls are always active.
Choosing the right plan
Now that you know what to look out for in your apartment internet, you are ready to choose an internet provider and plan.
To find the best option for your unique needs, give Move In Connect a call at 1300 786 405 or enter your details online.
Our moving experts will consider the connection type available at your new address, the size of your household, the flexibility of the contract terms (fixed length or month-to-month), and your internet requirements to match you with the perfect plan.
Our comparison tool is 100% free of charge and once we’ve found you the cheapest internet plan, we’ll even take care of moving broadband to your new home!
If you subscribe to pay tv or streaming services in Australia, then a bundle plan might be an affordable option. Some of our favorite plans are below.
| Internet service provider | Plan and perks |
| Optus | Internet Family Entertainer (NBN)
|
Optus 5G Internet Entertainer Superfast
|
|
| Belong | 100GB Data Plan (3G and 4G)
|
NBN
|
|
| Foxtel | Unlimited NBN Broadband + Platinum Plus Bundle
|
| Telstra | NBN 250 Ultimate
|
*Min cost is higher than the monthly charge to cover the cost of the modem and/or installation.
If you are planning a move to an apartment building, call Move-In Connect and we can take care of all your moving utilities services for you. Not only can we compare broadband plans and arrange your new NBN connection, but we can also compare energy plans and arrange electricity, gas, and Pay TV Australia ready to connect for moving day.
