AdviceTECHNOLOGY


FAST,FLEXIBLE AND FREE


ARE YOU FED UP WITH your broadband provider?Are thespeedsinyourblock tooslow or theconnectionunreliable? Or areyou a tenantwhoissimplyfrustratedwiththe time it takestosignuptoabroadband serviceand take on anew contract each timeyoudecide tomove? If any of this sounds familiar, you and the other residents in your blockmay be pleasedtohearthatFreedomInternet has recently been launched in London. ApoorBroadband serviceisaturn-off


forpotential buyers andrenters.Research carried outlastyearamongmorethan2000 homebuyers by broadbandchoices.co.uk and property specialist Henry Pryor, revealed that a quick, reliable internet connection has become one of themust-haves for today’s flat owner. Accordingtothe survey,one in tenhouse hunters had walked away fromproperties with poorinternetconnections,whileone in five checkedbroadband speedsbeforemakingan appointment to view. As aresultofour growingrelianceonthe


internet forworkand leisure,wifi internet has becomeamuch-requested serviceamong flat owners and tenants around the country. With asuccessful trackrecord of supplying wifinetworkstoapartmentsinNew Zealand, FreedomInternet is nowbreaking into theUK marketand is readytocommenceinstallations at anumberofLondon apartmentbuildings. Thecompany specialisesinsetting up wifi networks in apartment blocks at zero cost to either residentsortheRMC/propertymanager. Thecompany takesthe commercial risk and then markets atailoredwifi plan direct to individual flatowners. Creatingawifi networkissimple. Freedom


Internet installs the‘brains’ofthe hardware equipmentinthe area of ablockwhere services enter the building. Existing risers areusedtolay cables to each floor andsecure theaccesspointsinceiling hatchesorout of sight inside hallwaycupboards.Accesspoints arestrategically locatedthroughout the building to offer a strong wifisignaltoall rooms, in each apartment. Flat owners have immediate


accesstothe internet aftermoving in;theyhavenorestrictive12-18 month contractstonegotiate with a service provider and can usuallyget acheaper service via one of FreedomInternet’s tailor-made plans. Individual plans include:£3.50 perhr;


Residents at thisNewZealand apartmentblockhadtheir wifinetworkinstalledby FreedomInternetinMay 2012.ThePrecincthas180 apartmentswitharange of studiosandoneandtwo bedroomunits.Theproposal processtookaroundtwo to threemonthswhile all therelevant information wasgathered.Freedom Internet thenput togethera presentationtotheproperty managementandtheparties


Arapid, reliable internet connection is nowamust-have for homebuyers. NowNEIL FARNWORTH’S New


Zealand–based company is bringing this and more to an apartment block near you


AND HERE’SONEWEPREPARED EARLIER...


agreedterms.Oncethe proposalwasaccepted, the wifisurvey, installationand test tooklessthanaweek.


£5 perday;£15 forfive days;and £35for 30 days with unlimited data on each plan. Thecompany normallyestablishes aprofit


share with the residents association,RMC or propertymanager, with FreedomInternet offeringapercentage(generallyaround15% for apartmentblocks) on thetotal revenueasite generates. Thismeans thosemanagingthe site have a popular newservice to offer both long andshort-termresidents,providedatzero charge,whilegaininganadditionalincome streamandastrongselling pointfor their block. Everyone’s a winner. FreedomInternet is nowspeaking with


many propertymanagers andResidents Associations in London and elsewhere in the


Arethe speeds in your block too slow?


ThePrecinctcurrentlyhas45 individualusersout ofatotal of200butasNeilFarnworth explains, thewifiservicecan takeuptoayearormoreto fullymigrateintothebuilding. “Thisisdueto thefact that onceanapartment resident hassignedacontractwith aninternet provider,most willcontinueuntil theyleave. Apartmentbuildingswith higher residentturnover increaserevenuesmuch morequickly,”hesays.


UK. So far the concept has generated plenty of interest frompotentialcustomerswhoare keen to getawifi networkintotheir building. Thebenefits to residentsare obviousbut the serviceoffers added valuetoo.The wifinetwork canbeusedbymanagerstoadd wirelessCCTV cameras and remote door locks and intercoms canbe installed atmuch lower costs. Despiteinterest fromtheUKmarket,


FreedomInternet has only beenoperating here forafewmonthsand doesn’tyet haveawifi site up andrunning.The company’sbusinessmodel is ideally suited to apartment blocks with 50 or more residents and judging by the level of interest,MDNeilFarnworth is confident that the company’s firstUKwifinetwork will be installed in the very near future. In NewZealand, feedback fromresidents


hasbeenextremely positive,explains Neil.“Many of ourusers arehighusers of broadbandand demand high speed.Theywill move around andoften stay at an apartment for a year, sometimes less, thenmove again. Pay-as-you-go internet is asystemdesigned tomeet the needs for apartment tenants. They will look forapartment buildingswith arange of services in place, includingagood wifinetwork”. Here’swhat oneresidenthad to sayabout FreedomInternet’s wifiservice:“I waswithXnet, butinthe enditwas just too expensive. Your data plans arespotonprice- wise so it wasano-brainer”. Forletting agents too, theservice has proved to beamajor plus point as Angie Fredrika – at City Apartments points out:“Wefind that tenantstalktotheir friends and we get enquiries because of word ofmouth just because of the internet”.●


TocontactFreedomInternetandformore information,goto theirwebsite at www.freedominternet.co.nz


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