The Connectivity Problem Most Property Owners Don't Know They Have
In apartment buildings across America, a hidden battle is taking place. It's not between residents. It's between their WiFi routers.
When hundreds of residents install their own consumer-grade routers in a single building, the wireless signals collide and interfere with each other. The result is frustratingly slow speeds, dropped connections and angry residents who blame their property managers. For years, this was simply accepted as the cost of doing business in multifamily housing.
Gigstreem, a managed network provider based in the multifamily and commercial property space, has built its entire business model around solving this problem. Unlike traditional internet service providers that focus on individual households, Gigstreem engineers networks designed specifically for high-density environments where hundreds or thousands of people live and work in close proximity.
"We do manage WiFi differently," said Patrick Albus, Chief Executive Officer of Gigstreem. "Our goal is to engineer a better way, one that ensures residents, businesses and property managers never have to worry about whether their network can keep up. We built our entire system to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce downtime and guarantee quality performance."
The company's approach addresses a fundamental flaw in how most apartment buildings handle internet service. A single WiFi 6 router might deliver impressive speeds in one unit, but it creates wireless interference that degrades service for neighbors throughout the building. Gigstreem's managed WiFi system intelligently distributes bandwidth and device traffic across entire properties, delivering consistent connectivity to every resident rather than creating winners and losers based on who has the newest equipment.
All properties connect using 10G fiber circuits, providing the backbone infrastructure necessary to support modern bandwidth demands. The system is engineered to handle high-demand periods without degradation, a critical capability as streaming services, video calls and smart home devices proliferate.
For property owners, this solves multiple problems simultaneously. Residents get fast, reliable internet service they're willing to pay for as an amenity. Property managers spend less time fielding connectivity complaints and coordinating with multiple ISPs. And owners can turn internet service into a revenue-generating amenity by including the cost in rental agreements.
The company's transformation over the past two years reflects broader changes in how the multifamily industry thinks about connectivity. What was once viewed as a basic utility has become a key differentiator in resident satisfaction and property value.
Gigstreem’s current chapter took shape through a series of changes in 2023 and 2024. The company was acquired in 2023, and a leadership transition the following year set the stage for broad operational improvements across the organization.
Since then, Gigstreem has invested heavily in both technology and customer experience. Gigstreem became an early adopter of Ruckus R1 technology, which uses self-healing network capabilities to automatically detect and resolve connectivity issues before they impact users. The R1 partnership is in its early stages but is expected to be rolled out at every new property moving forward.
The company has also overhauled its customer care infrastructure with more than $2 million in investments over the past year. This included strengthening the leadership team, modernizing the call center and transitioning to a state-of-the-art Network Operations Center. The company is deploying ServiceNow and SolarWinds platforms to enhance monitoring and service management capabilities.
Results from these investments are measurable. Gigstreem's Net Promoter Score now exceeds 60, significantly higher than the industry average in the low 30s. For context, most cable and internet providers struggle with NPS scores that hover around zero or dip into negative territory.
"A common misconception is that Gigstreem is the same company it was a year ago," a company spokesperson explained. "In reality, we've made substantial strategic investments in our people, processes and leadership, transforming the organization and elevating the customer experience."
The company operates with a set of core values that emphasize transparency, relentless pursuit of quality, unwavering customer commitment, strategic speed and treating others with empathy and respect. These aren't just platitudes. They inform how the company structures its support operations, which differ significantly from traditional ISP models.
Unlike many providers that rely on chatbots or automated phone systems, Gigstreem customers interact primarily with real people from the start. The support structure is intentionally flat, allowing issues to escalate from frontline agents to vice presidents or the executive team quickly when situations require it, without layers of bureaucracy slowing resolution.
Gigstreem's technology roadmap reflects a broader shift toward AI-driven network management and predictive capabilities. The company is already using artificial intelligence to optimize real-time performance, applying quality standards across every property and using predictive heatmapping to ensure precision network coverage.
Two new portal systems represent significant steps forward in transparency and control. The owner portal, launched in 2025, allows property owners to view the service status of their entire portfolio from a single interface. A resident portal is planned for Q2 2026 and will give residents visibility into their network status along with direct access to support resources.
In December 2025, the company launched Gigstreem Command, a dedicated owner and manager portal designed to centralize network oversight across multifamily portfolios. The platform provides real-time incident and ticket visibility, property management tools, portfolio analytics and Network Operations Center access. Users can monitor support tickets as they occur, manage resident accounts, track technician appointments and view circuit-level diagnostics for each property.
Security and privacy form another cornerstone of the company's value proposition. Gigstreem achieved SOC 2 compliance last year, partnering with Johanson Group to conduct rigorous audits of policies, procedures and infrastructure across change management, logical access, backup management, business continuity and security incident response.
The company goes beyond minimum compliance requirements by integrating critical infrastructure to monitor SOC 2 framework compliance continuously, not just during audit periods. Networks are designed to provide private, secure digital spaces for each user. Every device connects through a unique, dynamically assigned password. Traffic is isolated within dedicated virtual networks. Strong encryption safeguards all communications.
"At Gigstreem, safeguarding user data and maintaining cybersecurity is a top priority," a spokesperson shared. “The SOC 2 certification provides third-party validation that internal controls meet rigorous information security standards.”
The company also emphasizes that it never stores or sells internet usage data, a privacy commitment that distinguishes it from competitors who monetize user behavior.
As a fully remote company, Gigstreem approaches geographic expansion differently than traditional providers. The company has built infrastructure to support remote operations and leverages a network of trusted partners for on-the-ground execution. This model allows Gigstreem to establish presence and deliver service in new markets in as little as 90 days.
Recent projects demonstrate the company's ability to handle complex installations. Gigstreem recently completed a full network installation at an existing Class A property where residents expect the highest living standards. Retrofitting an occupied community presents unique challenges, from careful wall access to precise trenching for cabling, all while ensuring residents' daily routines remain uninterrupted. The company restored the property to its original condition while delivering the network with minimal disruption.
Financial discipline sits at the center of that expansion strategy. With tighter management, a healthier balance sheet, and strong backing from investors, the company has the flexibility to grow thoughtfully. That stability allows Gigstreem to invest in innovation and customer experience without cutting corners or sacrificing reliability as it scales.
The company also integrates sustainability into operations. Fiber and wireless solutions are energy efficient. Remote troubleshooting capabilities reduce the need for truck rolls, minimizing environmental footprint. The company sources high-quality equipment that meets or exceeds environmental standards and follows strict procedures to responsibly recycle or dispose of network components.
Gigstreem's long-term vision centers on becoming the industry leader of managed networks for multifamily owners and operators. The company aims to be a true partner for real estate clients, providing transparency in network operations and delivering what it describes as an unparalleled connectivity experience.
"At Gigstreem, innovation is driven by our commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience today and into the future," the company explained. "The customer experience isn't just a focus. It's the future we're building."
For an industry built on a reputation for poor service, dropped calls and customer frustration, that represents a genuinely different approach.
