Could you get internet service for your apartment on move-in day?
New plug-and-play tech from Spectrum makes it possible
Oct 25, 2024 | Share 
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There have been two times in the last ten years when I was grateful for my old CD collection. The first time was when I moved into a one-bedroom apartment on my own and had to wait for an Xfinity Gateway to be delivered through the mail. The second time was when I took a journalism gig in Boise, Idaho, and had to wait until a weekday to call Sparklight and get my account set up.
Because who wants to unpack boxes and arrange furniture in total silence? And without an internet connection, the world (and your new apartment) is quite silent.
With the new Spectrum Ready platform for MDUs (multi-unit developments), that’s all changed. If your new apartment condo has the service, you can sign up for high-speed internet service in seconds (and finally send those CDs to Goodwill, along with that mismatched cutlery collection and those jeans that never fit quite right).
How does it work? Just scan a QR code provided in your move-in packet, choose a plan, and you’ll be able to create your own home Wi-Fi network. From there, you can easily add your streaming devices, laptops, and phones like you would if you were using your own router.
The Spectrum Ready platform is similar to the Xfinity Communities platform. Both make it easier for landlords to manage connectivity for their tenants while making it easier for tenants to access the internet.
“Spectrum Ready delivers ‘day one’ internet to residents so they can enjoy uninterrupted connectivity and entertainment from the moment they step into their new homes. This service will enhance resident satisfaction and simplify the administrative responsibilities of property managers.”
– Keith Dardis, Senior Vice President of Spectrum Community Solutions
Spectrum says people who live in apartments that use Spectrum Ready will enjoy the following benefits:
- Speeds up to 2 Gbps
- A WiFi 6E router paired with an ONU (fiber modem) and Security Shield technology
- Spectrum TV plans offering 150+ channels and thousands of On Demand titles
- Access to 24/7 customer service and the My Spectrum App
It was not clear from the press release whether renters would have any way to use their own routers. We also don’t know how often the routers could be replaced, just that tenants won’t have to take them down and pack them up when they move out.
Will low-income families qualify for cheap plans or credits?
It’s not clear whether low-income renters with access to Spectrum Ready will be able to sign up for the Spectrum Internet Assist or Internet Advantage programs, which start at $25–$30 per month. We also didn’t hear back on whether tenants could use the federal Lifeline program, which amounts to $9.25 monthly saving on internet bills for needy families.
Figures gathered from reporting by Fierce Network and Scaling Connectivity for Multifamily Properties, a study commissioned by Xfinity.
Will renters be able to opt out of their landlord’s choice for internet service?
In many apartments and condos, tenants have access to only one internet provider, and that’s likely the case in a lot of Spectrum Ready and Xfinity Communities properties. In some of those buildings, tenants are required to pay their landlord for internet and TV service as part of bulk billing agreements. In others, renters set up their own deals with the internet providers.
My take: Shop for internet options—if you can
My digital life started on dialup and I remember being thrilled to upgrade to DSL. I’ve also lived on shared cable internet and the old days of incredibly sucky Wi-Fi extenders with a 100Mbps connection. I am pretty lucky now—I live in a house wired for fiber internet, filled with more smart devices than you could shake a stick at.
But if you live in a condo or apartment and have only one option for wired internet service, there are two big reasons to keep it.
First, you may be perfectly happy with the service and you enjoy perks like easy signup and installation. I gotta admit, signing up for service via QR code is pretty cool.
Second, you may be in a bulk billing arrangement and you have no way to opt out. In that case, shopping around may be an exercise in frustration.
But if you aren’t completely satisfied and aren’t billed in bulk, you have more options than I did in my apartment days. In the last few years, fixed wireless alternatives are increasingly available from providers such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon.
I haven’t managed these personally but I have used them to stream at friends’ houses, and they’re great. No slowdowns in sight.
These plans use 4G LTE and 5G mobile phone networks to power home internet service and like with the new program from Spectrum, there are no cables to run or appointments to set up. Just plug in a gateway device from the provider, mount it near a window, and you’re good to go. You won’t have access to the same cable TV services you’d get from Xfinity or Spectrum, but you will be able to get sweet deals for bundling home internet and mobile phone services.
What you can get depends on your exact address, but it’s worth a shot!
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Author - Chili Palmer
Chili Palmer covers breaking news, satellite internet, mobile connectivity, and streaming services for HighSpeedInternet.com. Previously writing under the name Rebecca Palmer, Chili is passionate about providing accurate and accessible information any time you're trying to connect … whether you already speak geek or just got your first smartphone.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.
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