Calix SmartMDU, a managed Wi-Fi service aimed at communications providers who serve multiple dwelling units (MDUs), now is available.
The vendor says that SmartMDU provides any MDU with managed Wi-Fi services that formerly were available only to luxury high rises. The platform is designed to ease deployment, management, and support of a number of services. It supports IoT security, property-wide roaming, electric vehicles, and use of guest Wi-Fi in MDU common areas.
SmartMDU also offers network protection, content, and security controls and unique guest service set identifiers (SSIDs) for weekend visitors. Tenants have exclusive connections that are managed through the CommandIQ mobile app.
Calix says that SmartMDU scales to buildings of any size or age and is adapted to bulk or retail business models. It extends Wi-Fi coverage across entire MDU properties and can connect in dog walks, fitness facilities, and common areas.
The platform fully supports network connection types including fiber-to-the-unit, structured Ethernet or repurposing of copper and coaxial cable.
Calix says SmartMDU streamlines operations for service providers and property managers through cloud management. Calix Cloud enables property managers to leverage custom-built dashboards to identify the tenant’s unit and building within the property and the status of IoT devices. This can streamline the work of support and operations teams.
The system is administered by PropertyWorx, which the company says is “simple and easy-to-use” and increases efficiency and boosts tenant experiences.
Calix is hitting an attractive market, according to a study by Xfinity Communities and Parks Associates that was released last month. The research found that there are 3.56 million smart apartment residential units in the U.S and 2.7 million smart condos.
Deploying Wi-Fi in MDUs is trickier as a building ages, according to the research. 82% of MDUs older than ten years have Wi-Fi connectivity issues, while only 13% of newer buildings face such issues.
