In towns full of college dormitories and nearby rental communities catering to growing student populations, reliable internet is no longer a perk, it’s a necessity. Take Athens, Georgia as an example. The University of Georgia fuels the city and its vibrant rental market full of dorms, student apartment complexes, multi-use developments and nearby senior living complexes. They all have one thing in common. A high demand for reliable and fast internet on every floor. But that comes with challenges that can be costly and hard to solve. Until now. Fixed wireless for MDUs is the powerful future-ready solution that allows this non-negotiable utility to thrive in cities like this across the country and beyond.
For developers, property managers and fiber operators, navigating this landscape and deploying fiber to each individual unit across sprawling MDUs can be costly, disruptive and inflexible. That’s where fixed wireless comes in and BroadbandOne is helping make it a viable, future-ready solution.
Understanding the Challenges of MDU Connectivity
MDUs pose unique network infrastructure challenges. With multiple households under one roof, often with varied usage patterns and high peak demand times, maintaining consistent, low-latency internet performance is no small feat. Traditional wired broadband solutions can be costly and slow to deploy, especially in older buildings or densely built-up neighborhoods , which is something Athens has in abundance.
On top of that, college towns like Athens experience major bandwidth surges during school semesters and sporting events, making flexible, scalable internet infrastructure a must-have. Other challenges include:
High-Density Demands
Every unit in a building can house multiple devices, stream content, video conference, and use smart appliances. Traditional cable and even some fiber deployments can strain under this usage, especially in peak hours.
Infrastructure Barriers
Older MDUs often lack structured cabling or require costly retrofits to support fiber. Digging, drilling, and rerouting often delay connectivity and disrupt tenants.
Why Fixed Wireless Internet Works for MDUs
Fixed wireless internet, particularly when delivered using high-bandwidth mmWave and licensed mid-band spectrum, sidesteps many of the physical limitations of wired broadband. Unlike traditional fiber or cable, fixed wireless uses small antennas to deliver broadband directly to buildings, dramatically cutting installation times and infrastructure costs. Fixed wireless providers like BroadbandOne work to help complement fiber providers to achieve a single goal of reliable and fast connectivity for everyone, on every floor.
Key advantages for MDUs include:
- Rapid deployment – Get new developments or older buildings online fast, without trenching or rewiring.
- Scalability – Adapt bandwidth to meet usage spikes, ideal for college environments and short-term rentals.
- Reduced interference – Especially when leveraging licensed mmWave spectrum, interference from other wireless networks is minimized.
- Lower cost of ownership – Fewer physical materials and simplified deployment equal lower long-term costs.
Athens, Georgia: A Case Study in MDU Connectivity
As the home of the University of Georgia, Athens is brimming with opportunities to modernize broadband for both student housing and residential MDUs. The area’s mix of historic buildings and new construction makes it a perfect testing ground for flexible broadband deployment models that don’t require extensive rewiring or delays due to permitting.
That’s because Athens is more than just the home of the Bulldogs. It’s a dynamic, fast-growing city with:
- 38% of the population aged 18–24
- A large concentration of apartments and student-focused housing
- High churn of residents each semester
These conditions demand a broadband solution that is flexible, rapidly deployable and scalable, all traits that fixed wireless delivers.
According to recent market data, MDU internet demand is projected to grow significantly in 2025, driven by the surge in smart apartments, hybrid learning and the ongoing push toward property tech (PropTech) adoption.
BroadbandOne’s Wireless-First Advantage
Today’s MDU tenants, especially students and young professionals, expect seamless streaming, video conferencing, smart-home capabilities and always-on connectivity. Any hiccups in service can translate to tenant dissatisfaction, negative reviews and higher churn.
By deploying fixed wireless internet with the power of mmWave through BroadbandOne, fiber operators and MDU operators together can:
- Differentiate properties with premium internet service
- Offer tiered bandwidth packages with minimal infrastructure changes
- Add smart technologies (IoT lighting, locks, HVAC) easily via LoRaWAN
- Ensure consistent performance regardless of occupancy levels
BroadbandOne’s TaaS Simplifies Complex MDU Connectivity
BroadbandOne’s award-winning Telco as a Service (TaaS) model is uniquely suited to tackle the MDU challenge in markets like Athens. With exclusive access to licensed 28GHz and 2.5GHz spectrum, as well as LoRaWAN (for IoT enablement), BroadbandOne brings a holistic, end-to-end network solution to property owners and operators.
This comprehensive infrastructure is purpose-built for high-performance broadband and offers these tools to make it work:
- 28GHz mmWave provides ultra-fast, low-latency connections ideal for high-density environments.
- LoRaWAN integration allows MDUs to support a range of smart building and security technologies.
Whether it’s streaming lectures, managing property systems or supporting hundreds of connected college devices, BB1’s wireless-first strategy ensures MDUs can deliver seamless connectivity without the traditional infrastructure headaches.
Bringing it All Together on Every Floor
BroadbandOne simplifies the delivery of reliable broadband through its advanced TaaS model. For MDUs in dynamic markets like Athens, Georgia, fixed wireless internet isn’t just a viable alternative to fiber, it’s often the smarter and faster choice. And with BB1’s licensed spectrum and integrated infrastructure, MDU owners can finally say goodbye to the complexity of wired deployments and hello to a future-proof, high-performance network experience.
By utilizing licensed and interference-free spectrum, we deliver blazing-fast broadband in MDUs where fiber can’t go. Our TaaS approach provides end-to-end services, from network design and deployment to customer service. We also offer:
Exclusive Spectrum Access
BB1’s access to licensed mmWave and mid-band spectrum means cleaner signal, less interference, and more consistent service. This is crucial in dense housing environments like Athens.
Faster Turn-Up, Smarter Scaling
Need to light up a new apartment building before students arrive for the semester? FWA can be deployed in weeks, not months. Plus, our infrastructure scales with your tenant population.
IoT and Smart Building Integration
With LoRaWAN, our networks support IoT-enabled buildings from day one—providing a clear path to smart utility management, access control, and sustainability.
The MDU Future is Wireless and It’s Already Here with BB1
With billions in new MDU investments happening across Georgia, including in smaller cities like Athens, the time to rethink traditional connectivity approaches is now. Fixed wireless offers a clean, efficient, and future-ready alternative to fiber-only strategies, especially when powered by a robust TaaS framework like BroadbandOne’s.
Developers and owners don’t have to compromise between performance and simplicity. They can have both — and deliver best-in-class broadband experiences to residents, businesses, and visitors alike.
BroadbandOne is committed to bringing enterprise-grade broadband to the most challenging MDU environments. Contact us today to learn more about opportunities in your market.
