Fiber to the Unit (FTTU) Retrofits
Upgrade every apartment home with fiber, without a gut rehab.
Internet Subway retrofits occupied multifamily communities with discreet, code-compliant fiber to each unit. We partner with Lightera and often deploy their InvisiLight® solutions to bring fiber deeper into buildings quickly and cleanly. Our team uses a broad toolbox of retrofit techniques to fit any property type or construction style—garden, mid-rise, high-rise, student housing, historic, or adaptive reuse.
Why owners choose FTTU with Internet Subway
- Multigigabit ready: Architected for XGS-PON and Wi-Fi 7, enabling 1–10+ Gbps service tiers and low-latency performance.
- Future-proof backbone: Fiber to every front door supports today’s proptech (locks, cameras, access, BMS) and tomorrow’s.
- Occupied-friendly: Minimal disruption, small footprint pathways, and clean finishes that blend into existing interiors.
- Higher NOI potential: Premium internet amenity, bulk or retail models, upsell tiers, and lower support overhead.
- Portfolio consistency: Standardized rooms, labeling, documentation, and monitoring across assets.
How a retrofit works (typical flow)
Discovery & desktop survey
Plans review, existing risers/paths, unit counts, and construction types.
On-site walk & pilot
Confirm routes, test sample stacks/units, validate visual finish.
Design & permitting
Detailed scope, Bill of Materials, drawings, and AHJ/HOA coordination if required.
Riser & equipment rooms
Clean, code-compliant MDF/IDF buildouts, power, grounding, racks, OLTs/switches.
Fiber drops to each unit
Discreet pathways to the demarcation point inside every home.
ONT placement & turn-up
Optical Network Terminal placement, signal qualification, and speed/latency tests.
Resident activation & support
Door-to-door scheduling, communications, and white-glove install experience.
Resident activation & support
Labeling, test records, schematics, photos, and maintenance plan.
Retrofit methods we use
Because no two buildings are alike, we select the right mix of tools for each property:
- In-unit micro-pathways: Lightera InvisiLight® discrete fiber routing along baseboards, frames, or moldings—nearly invisible, paintable, and bend-insensitive.
- Hallway raceways/moldings: Low-profile surface systems that blend with corridor finishes.
- Microduct & pull solutions: For longer runs and re-use of available shafts, sleeves, or chases.
- Riser optimizations: New or reclaimed risers, splitters, and distribution points to simplify vertical/horizontal feeds.
- Exterior/garage paths: Facade-adjacent or garage-level conduits where interior pathways are constrained (code-permitting).
- Exterior/garage paths: Facade-adjacent or garage-level conduits where interior pathways are constrained (code-permitting).
We meet the building where it is—wood frame or concrete, new or 1970s—and deliver a clean, durable fiber path to every unit.
The Complete Connectivity Package
Expert design, quality installation, advanced Wi-Fi, and a smooth resident experience—all under one roof.
What’s included
- Design package: Scope, drawings, labeling standards, test plan.
- Materials & install: Fiber cabling, raceways/moldings, splitters, trays, enclosures, and terminations.
- Electronics (as specified): OLTs, ONTs, CPE/Wi-Fi, UPS, and monitoring.
- Quality & compliance: Grounding/bonding, firestopping, code-conforming penetrations.
- Documentation: Photos, light-level reports, OTDR where appropriate, as-builts, room/equipment inventories.
- Resident comms: Notices, scheduling windows, on-site reps for questions on install day.
The Service Framework
The resident experience
- Fast & reliable: Symmetrical multigigabit service tiers with consistent low latency.
- Personalized in-unit setup: ONT placement and Wi-Fi that fits each home’s layout.
- Clean installs: Small, neat fiber paths; no dangling cables or wall scars.
- Simple activation: Clear instructions and responsive support.
Ideal use cases
- Communities stuck on coax or aging copper looking to leapfrog to fiber.
- Properties adding or consolidating proptech loads (access control, cameras, BMS).
- Bulk internet conversions aiming for higher take-rates and premium tiers.
- Renovations where walls stay closed but performance must jump.
Technical Snapshot
- Architecture: XGS-PON or active Ethernet to in-unit ONT.
- Speeds: Base tiers from 1 Gbps with optional 2.5/5/8+ Gbps upgrades.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 ready; 6 GHz planning for smaller cells and higher density.
- Segmentation: Private VLANs/PPPoE options, device isolation, and property IoT networks.
- Monitoring: End-to-end visibility—OLT to ONT—to shorten MTTR and reduce tickets.
Timeline & disruption
Project durations vary by size and construction. We stage work by building/stack and coordinate with management to minimize interruptions. In-unit time is typically brief and scheduled—most residents are back to normal the same day.
Frequently Asked Question
Do residents need to be home?
For in-unit entry, yes; we offer scheduled windows and building-by-building notices.
Will you punch holes in finished walls?
Our first choice is low-visibility pathways (e.g., InvisiLight®). Where concealed routes are required, we patch/paint to deliver a clean finish.
Can we keep our existing TV/ISP contracts?
Yes. We can operate alongside incumbents during transition and cut over building-by-building.
What about historic or concrete buildings?
We tailor methods—surface raceways, micro-pathways, or exterior/conduit solutions—to meet code and aesthetic requirements.
Is this compatible with our smart devices and cameras?
Yes. Fiber provides the bandwidth and reliability your proptech stack needs today and in the future.
Tell us about your community and we’ll return a planning-level budget and timeline.