Network Infrastructure as a Service
Lease the Space With the Network Already On
Key Takeaways
Network infrastructure as a service means a provider designs, installs, owns and supports a building's firewall, switches, Wi-Fi and cell coverage for one monthly rate instead of buying hardware out of a tenant improvement budget. For spec warehouses and vacant space, ObsidianX brings Meter: the network goes in before the tenant, who pays once they turn it on.
A spec warehouse or a vacant suite shows better when the network is already in the ceiling. We bring a provider that designs, installs, owns and supports the firewall, switches, Wi-Fi and cellular gear. The owner is not billed. The tenant pays one monthly rate once they turn it on, and we stay through turn-up.
What network infrastructure as a service means for a building
Most spaces lease empty. The tenant signs, then runs a network project: quotes, hardware, cabling, a firewall, Wi-Fi, a contractor, and weeks of waiting before anyone can work. Network infrastructure as a service flips that order. A provider designs and installs the network before the tenant arrives, owns the equipment, and the tenant subscribes when they move in.
The provider owns the equipment, supports it and refreshes it as it ages, for one monthly rate. The owner is not the customer on the network contract.
The provider we bring: Meter
For new and vacant commercial buildings, the provider we bring for this model is Meter. Meter builds the firewalls, switches, Wi-Fi access points and cellular gear, installs them, owns and supports them, and refreshes them as they age, for one monthly rate. We are not Meter, and we compare it against the other ways to deliver a network before anyone commits.
Meter's published customer stories, at meter.com/customers, include GoBolt, a 3PL Meter reports covering 13 locations and 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space; Stord; Switchyards, with one consolidated bill across its internet providers; Pave, which Meter describes subleasing its space to AtoB with turnkey network infrastructure in place; and 512 2nd St., described as every tenant, every floor, one internet utility. Those are Meter's customers, not ours.
Who pays: the tenant, not the owner
This is the first question an owner asks, so it gets a straight answer. Meter is paid by the tenant, not the owner, and nothing is billed until a tenant turns the network on.
- The owner provides access to the space and introductions to incoming tenants.
- The incoming tenant contracts directly with the provider.
- Billing starts when the tenant's network goes live.
- The tenant brings an internet circuit, or has the provider source one.
What goes in the ceiling
| Layer | What goes in | What it does for the tenant |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Firewall | One secure edge for the space, with security included |
| Wired | Switches | Ports for desks, printers, scanners and building systems |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi access points | Coverage across offices, warehouse floors and common areas |
| Cellular | Indoor cellular, where needed | Phones work inside the building on the major carriers, with E911 |
| Internet | Circuit sourcing, if the tenant wants it | One provider to manage the internet line as well |
Spec warehouses and spec suites: why a live network helps the space lease
A spec building is built to lease before a tenant is named. A network that is already installed answers the question every tenant's IT lead asks on the tour, and it removes one of the longest lead items from the move-in plan. A space with a working network competes with sublease space that already has one.
Tenant improvement budgets and the network line
A tenant improvement allowance usually covers the build-out: walls, finishes, power, cabling. Network hardware often lands in the same conversation as a purchase someone has to fund. With network infrastructure as a service the hardware is not purchased at all. It is part of the tenant's monthly rate, so the network stops competing with finishes for the same allowance.
Owning hardware versus one monthly rate
| Buy the hardware | The provider, one monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Up front | Hardware purchase and install | No hardware purchase |
| Who owns the gear | The owner or the tenant | The provider |
| Support | Your IT team or an outside contract | The provider, 24/7 |
| Refresh | A new purchase when it ages | Included |
| Who pays in a vacant space | Whoever bought it | Nobody until a tenant turns it on |
Cell coverage inside the building
Concrete and metal buildings block cell signal, and tenants notice on day one. The indoor cellular we bring uses neutral host technology: phones connect as they would to a carrier tower, with no app, and with stated support for the three largest US carriers and E911. It is shared indoor coverage for every carrier, which is different from a private cellular network built for one company's devices.
Networks for occupied offices and branchesInternet for apartment communities insteadTechnology across a real estate portfolioWarehouses and logistics operators
Send us the building, the spaces you are leasing and when they deliver. You get a building review: which spaces to pre-install, what would go in, and how the tenant turn-up works.
Key benefits of our Move-In-Ready Networks services
The space shows move-in ready
Prospects tour a building where the network is already installed, instead of hearing that one could be built after they sign.
The owner is not billed
The provider is paid by the tenant, not the owner, and nothing is billed until a tenant turns the network on.
One monthly rate for the tenant
The tenant subscribes to the network instead of buying and refreshing hardware: one monthly rate for the whole network.
Hardware refreshes included
The provider owns the gear, supports it and replaces it as it ages, so nobody budgets a network refresh in year five.
24/7 support
Support runs 24/7 across every location, so a tenant's IT team is not the only line of defense.
One advisor from first walk to turn-up
We walk the building, line up the design, coordinate the install and stay through the first tenant's turn-up.
Where it pays off
Spec warehouses and distribution space
Scanners, picking systems and office space in one building need wall to wall Wi-Fi and a firewall on day one. Pre-installing it removes a long lead item from the tenant's move.
Spec suites and second generation office space
A suite with a working network competes with sublease space that already has one. The tenant plugs in instead of running a network project.
Multi-tenant and flex buildings
One network design across every floor, with each tenant on its own secure segment and its own monthly rate.
Portfolios delivering several buildings
One design standard and one support model across a portfolio, so every building leases with the same answer to the network question.
From first look to proven results
One team owns the whole path, so you are never refereeing between a consultant, a vendor, and an installer.
- 01
Building review
We walk the building or the plans with you and confirm which spaces should be pre-installed, which are waiting on a named tenant, and what the tenant will expect.
- 02
Network design
The provider designs the network for the space: firewall, switching, Wi-Fi coverage and, where it is needed, indoor cellular. You see the design before anything is installed.
- 03
Install before lease-up
The provider installs and owns the equipment. The owner provides access to the space and introductions to incoming tenants.
- 04
Tenant turn-up
The incoming tenant contracts with the provider, brings an internet circuit or has the provider source one, and billing starts when their network goes live. We stay through that turn-up.
Perfect for
- Industrial and flex developers delivering spec warehouses
- Office owners with vacant suites and second generation space to lease
- Leasing and asset teams who keep hearing the network question on tours
- IT leaders at companies moving into new space who would rather subscribe than buy hardware
The ObsidianX advantage
We work for you, not for quotas
Unlike a direct sales rep, we are paid the same regardless of which supplier wins. That means our only incentive is the solution that actually fits your business, benchmarked against the whole market.
See how we compare to going directMove-In-Ready Networks in your industry
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions buyers actually ask about move-in-ready networks, answered plainly.
What is network as a service, in plain words?
Network as a service is a category where a provider designs, installs, owns and supports the network equipment in a space and charges a monthly rate instead of selling the hardware. For new and vacant buildings, ObsidianX lines up a provider that builds and runs the firewall, switches, Wi-Fi and cellular gear.
Who pays for a pre-installed network in a vacant building?
Meter is paid by the tenant, not the owner, and nothing is billed until a tenant turns the network on. The incoming tenant contracts directly with Meter, and billing starts when their network goes live.
What gets installed, and who owns it?
Firewalls, switches, Wi-Fi access points and, where the building needs it, indoor cellular equipment. The provider designs and builds that hardware, installs it, owns it, supports it and refreshes it as it ages.
Does the tenant still need an internet circuit?
Yes. The network runs over an internet circuit the tenant brings, or the network provider can find and manage the internet provider for them. Either way the circuit is a separate line from the network itself.
How fast can a tenant get online in a pre-installed space?
For a pre-installed space, the provider's own tenant material says the tenant gets online in days. A building that is not pre-installed follows the provider's design and install schedule for that site, which we confirm before anyone commits to a date.
Does it cover cell phones inside the building?
It can. The indoor cellular we bring is built on neutral host technology, so phones connect the way they would to a carrier tower, with stated support for the three largest US carriers and E911. It is shared coverage for every carrier, not a private cellular network.
How is this different from buying Meraki or similar gear?
Buying gear means the owner or tenant pays up front, manages it and replaces it later. Here the hardware, support and refresh come with one monthly rate, so there is no hardware purchase in the tenant improvement budget.
Does it work for warehouses and distribution centers?
Yes. The provider's published customer stories include 3PL operators with large warehouse footprints, described in the section on the provider we bring.
What does the owner have to provide?
Access to the space for the install and an introduction to incoming tenants. The owner is not the customer on the network contract.
Is the network secure?
The provider states it is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and that security is included, such as DNS security, intrusion detection and prevention, and automatic VLANs that keep a secure guest network separate.
Can it work across a portfolio of buildings?
Yes. One design standard and one support model can cover every building in a portfolio. The provider's published stories include multi-site customers with one consolidated bill across all their internet providers.
Why work with an independent advisor on this?
We are not the network provider. We walk the building with you, check whether pre-installing fits each space, coordinate the design and install, compare it against the other ways to deliver a network, and stay through the first tenant's turn-up.
Request a building review.
Send us the building, the spaces you are leasing and when they deliver. We tell you which spaces to pre-install, what would go in, and how the tenant turn-up works. No cost to the owner.