Getting the technology infrastructure right in a new apartment development is not simply a matter of ticking boxes on a construction checklist. Done well, it produces a building that is safe, connected, and attractive to residents for decades. Done poorly — or left as an afterthought — it creates a cascade of expensive problems that can follow a building throughout its entire lifecycle.
This guide is written for developers, project managers, builders, and strata managers who want a clear, practical understanding of what technology infrastructure a modern apartment development requires, when it needs to be planned, who needs to be involved, and what goes wrong when these decisions are deferred.
Why Getting Technology Planning Wrong Costs Far More Than Getting It Right
The single most expensive mistake in apartment development technology is treating it as a late-stage item. By the time a builder is fitting out finishes, the opportunity to run conduit cleanly through structural walls, position equipment rooms near risers, or route fibre through the basement car park without major disruption has already passed.
The retrofit problem is well understood in commercial construction but consistently underestimated in residential developments. Installing a structured cabling system during construction might cost $40,000–$80,000 across a mid-size development. Retrofitting equivalent infrastructure into a completed building — with residents in place, wall chasing required, and disruption to manage — can cost three to five times that figure, and the result is rarely as clean.
Beyond the direct cost, under-planned technology creates ongoing strata management headaches. Buildings that lack proper VLAN segmentation between systems, for instance, often experience CCTV or access control outages traced back to network conflicts. Buildings without adequate mobile coverage infrastructure generate constant complaints from residents and can become a genuine safety concern in emergencies. Buildings with legacy copper-dependent lift emergency phones face compliance issues as PSTN services are decommissioned across Australia.
None of these problems are difficult to solve at design stage. All of them are expensive and disruptive to solve after handover.
Who Needs to Be Involved, and When
Technology infrastructure planning should begin no later than the schematic design phase — ideally earlier, when the building layout and structural systems are still being finalised. The key stakeholders to engage are:
The developer and project manager set the brief and approve the budget. Early involvement ensures technology requirements are reflected in the design documentation rather than value-engineered out later.
The builder and services coordinator need to understand conduit routes, equipment room locations, and cable tray requirements before slab pours and wall framing begin. Technology infrastructure is a services discipline and must be coordinated alongside mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic services.
An IT and communications specialist — ideally one with specific experience in apartment building technology — should provide a technology design that covers the building network, internet services, CCTV, access control, intercom, Wi-Fi, and mobile coverage. Engaging Pickle's apartment building technology specialists at this stage ensures all systems are designed to work together rather than procured independently and integrated later.
The lift company needs to be engaged on emergency communication requirements early, because the type of communication system (cellular vs. IP) affects the network design and the conduit routing into each lift shaft.
The access control installer should contribute to the network design, as modern access control platforms are network-dependent and require specific VLAN architecture, PoE switch provisioning, and sometimes cloud connectivity for remote management.
Fibre Internet Connectivity and the Building Backbone
Reliable, high-capacity internet connectivity is not just a resident amenity — it is the functional backbone of almost every other technology system in the building. CCTV systems stream footage to network video recorders (NVRs) and increasingly to cloud platforms. Access control systems communicate with management portals. Lift monitoring systems report faults remotely. Building management systems (BMS) connect to cloud dashboards. All of this depends on a stable, properly sized internet connection.
Most new developments in Australia connect via fibre, with NBN FTTB (fibre to the building) or a private fibre service from a carrier. The key decisions at design stage involve the entry point for the fibre, the location of the main distribution frame (MDF), and the capacity of the fibre backbone that runs through the building's communications risers to each floor.
Getting the riser and MDF design right requires coordination between the technology consultant, the electrical engineer, and the builder. The MDF room needs adequate space, power, cooling, and security. Risers need sufficient conduit for current and future cabling runs. These are decisions that cannot be easily revisited once concrete is poured.
Structured Cabling: The Physical Foundation
Structured cabling is the physical layer that connects every technology system in the building. It includes the fibre backbone running between floors, the copper or fibre horizontal runs connecting network switch locations to endpoints, the patch panels and distribution frames in each communications cabinet, and the conduit and cable management infrastructure throughout.
A properly designed structured cabling system follows a logical hierarchy: the MDF at the base of the building connects via fibre to intermediate distribution frames (IDFs) on each floor or zone, which in turn connect via horizontal cabling to switch locations serving each system. This hierarchy makes the network manageable, scalable, and fault-tolerant.
The practical implication for developers is that equipment room locations need to be identified during design — not discovered during fit-out. Each IDF location needs a dedicated communications cabinet, a power circuit, and adequate space. These rooms are often small (a single wall-mounted cabinet is sufficient on most floors) but they need to be positioned thoughtfully relative to the cabling runs they serve.
Secure Network Architecture: VLANs, Switches, and Why Segmentation Matters
A modern apartment building network carries traffic from multiple different systems — resident internet, CCTV, access control, intercom, building management, lift monitoring, and more. Running all of this on a single flat network is a security and reliability risk. If a vulnerability in one system is exploited, an attacker with network access could potentially reach all other systems. If one system generates excessive network traffic, it can degrade others.
The solution is VLAN (virtual local area network) segmentation, which logically separates different system types while allowing them to share the same physical infrastructure. CCTV cameras sit on their own VLAN, isolated from resident internet traffic. Access control devices sit on their own VLAN, isolated from CCTV. Management access to the network itself is restricted to a separate management VLAN accessible only to authorised administrators.
This architecture requires managed network switches and an enterprise-grade firewall configured to enforce traffic policies between VLANs. For a detailed breakdown of how this is implemented in apartment buildings, Pickle's guide to secure network design for apartment buildings covers the topic in depth — including common mistakes and the specific VLAN architecture that works best for strata environments.
CCTV Security Infrastructure
Security cameras are a baseline expectation in any modern apartment development. Residents, strata managers, and insurers all expect comprehensive CCTV coverage of common areas, and the design decisions made during construction determine how effective and maintainable that coverage will be.
Typical coverage areas include building entrances and lobby, lift lobbies on each floor, basement car parks, loading docks, rooftop amenities, and key egress points. Planning camera locations during design — rather than after cabling is complete — allows for optimal angles, clean cabling runs, and PoE switch locations that minimise cable lengths.
From a network perspective, CCTV systems should be isolated on a dedicated VLAN as described above. NVR or cloud storage systems should be sized for appropriate retention periods (typically 30 days minimum for strata), and the network bandwidth requirements of the camera system need to be factored into the internet service capacity plan.
Access Control Systems
Access control in a modern apartment development goes well beyond a key fob at the front door. Typical systems cover the main building entrance, basement vehicle gate, lift access by floor, gym and amenities, and sometimes individual apartment doors.
Modern access control platforms are entirely network-dependent. Controllers connect to a central management server or cloud platform over the building network. Mobile credential systems require residents to authenticate via a smartphone app. Video intercom integration requires the access control and intercom systems to communicate. None of this works reliably on a poorly designed network, and retrofitting proper network infrastructure to support a more capable access control platform later is a common and expensive problem in older buildings.
Intercom and Visitor Management
Video intercom systems have evolved considerably. Modern platforms support mobile app integration (residents can answer the door from anywhere in the world), cloud-based visitor management, and integration with access control to allow remote door release. Planning the wiring infrastructure during construction — including runs from each entry point to a head-end location with network connectivity — ensures the building can support these capabilities from day one and upgrade easily as platforms evolve.
Lift Emergency Communication: AS 1735.12 and the PSTN Transition
Lift emergency communication systems are a life safety requirement, not a convenience feature. In Australia, lifts must comply with AS 1735.12, which specifies requirements for the means by which a person trapped in a lift can call for help. The system must be capable of initiating a call without the passenger having to dial, must provide two-way communication, and must remain operational during a power failure via battery backup.
Historically, lift emergency phones relied on copper PSTN (public switched telephone network) lines. With NBN rollout, PSTN is being progressively decommissioned across Australia, and many buildings have already lost their copper services. A lift emergency phone connected to a decommissioned copper line is non-compliant and presents a serious liability.
The replacement options are cellular (a SIM-connected communicator installed in the lift) or IP (a VoIP connection over the building network). Cellular is generally the more robust option because it does not depend on the building network remaining operational during an emergency. Pickle's emergency lift phone solutions and the detailed guide to lift emergency phone requirements in Australia cover the compliance requirements and technology options in detail.
The key planning implication for developers is that the choice of communication type affects conduit requirements and coordination with the lift company. This decision should be made during design, not at fit-out.
Mobile Coverage Infrastructure: DAS, Repeaters, and Wi-Fi Calling Explained
Poor mobile coverage inside apartment buildings is one of the most common resident complaints, and one of the easiest problems to avoid with early planning. Large buildings — particularly those with concrete construction, underground car parks, and deep floor plates — can significantly attenuate mobile signals, leaving residents with one bar or no service in their apartment.
There are three main approaches to improving in-building mobile coverage, and understanding the differences matters for planning purposes.
A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is the most comprehensive solution. It takes a strong external signal from the rooftop, amplifies it, and distributes it throughout the building via a network of internal antennas. A DAS covers all carriers simultaneously and can be designed to provide consistent signal throughout every floor, basement, and lift shaft. It requires coordination with carriers during design and is most cost-effective when infrastructure is installed during construction.
Mobile signal repeaters are a simpler, less expensive option suited to buildings with partial coverage problems. A repeater captures an external signal and rebroadcasts it internally. They are carrier-specific (or broadband across carriers in the case of more sophisticated units) and are subject to ACMA compliance requirements in Australia.
Wi-Fi calling is not a network infrastructure solution — it is a feature built into modern smartphones that routes calls over a Wi-Fi connection when mobile signal is insufficient. It requires no building infrastructure beyond a reliable Wi-Fi network, but it depends on the resident's carrier supporting Wi-Fi calling and their device having it enabled. It is a useful complement to dedicated coverage solutions but not a substitute for them.
For further detail on each approach and how to evaluate which is right for your development, Pickle's guide to mobile coverage in apartment buildings is a practical reference.
Building Wi-Fi Networks
Common area Wi-Fi is increasingly expected in new developments — in lobbies, concierge areas, meeting rooms, rooftop terraces, and gym spaces. Planning wireless infrastructure during construction means access points can be ceiling-mounted with clean cabling runs and powered via PoE from properly located switches, rather than surface-mounted on walls with trailing cables.
Enterprise-grade access points managed through a cloud controller provide reliable coverage, allow the network to be segmented (separating resident guest access from building management systems), and make ongoing management straightforward for the strata manager or their technology provider.
Cyber Security in Connected Buildings
As buildings deploy more connected technology, the attack surface grows. CCTV systems, access control platforms, and building management systems are all targets for cyber threats — and compromised building technology can have direct physical security implications, not just data consequences.
Core cyber security measures for apartment building networks include enterprise-grade firewall protection, VLAN segmentation (as described above), secure remote access for administrators, regular firmware management for network devices, and monitoring for anomalous traffic patterns. Pickle's article on cyber security in smart buildings covers the threat landscape and recommended controls in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When in the development process should technology infrastructure planning begin?
A: Technology planning should begin no later than the schematic design phase, when the building layout and structural systems are still being finalised. This is the stage at which equipment room locations, riser conduit routes, and system requirements can be incorporated into the design documentation without additional cost. Waiting until construction documentation is complete significantly increases the risk of coordination problems and value-engineering of critical infrastructure.
Q: What is the cost difference between planning technology infrastructure at design stage versus retrofitting it after construction?
A: Retrofitting structured cabling and network infrastructure into a completed residential building typically costs three to five times the equivalent work done during construction. This reflects the cost of wall chasing, disruption management, and the compromised result that comes from working around finished surfaces. For large developments, the difference can run to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Q: Are lift emergency phones still required if the building has a concierge or security team on site?
A: Yes. AS 1735.12 compliance requires a dedicated emergency communication system in each lift regardless of whether staff are present. The system must allow a trapped passenger to initiate a call without dialling and must provide two-way communication. With PSTN decommissioning underway, buildings relying on copper-connected lift phones should urgently review their compliance status.
Q: What is VLAN segmentation and why does it matter for apartment buildings?
A: VLAN segmentation divides the building network into logically separate zones for different systems — for example, keeping CCTV traffic isolated from resident internet and access control systems. This improves both security (a compromise of one system cannot easily spread to others) and reliability (one system's traffic cannot overwhelm another). It requires managed switches and a properly configured firewall, which is why network design matters significantly more than simply installing the cheapest switches available.
Q: Who is responsible for technology infrastructure in a strata building after handover?
A: After handover, the owners corporation (body corporate) is responsible for common property technology systems — including the building network, CCTV, access control, and lift emergency communications. Strata managers typically coordinate service providers for maintenance and upgrades. Engaging a managed IT provider with specific strata experience, such as through Pickle's strata management communications services, ensures these systems are proactively monitored and maintained rather than only addressed when something fails.
Talk to Pickle About Your Development
Pickle works with developers, builders, and strata managers across Australia to plan, design, and deliver technology infrastructure for new apartment developments. Whether you are at concept stage or approaching construction documentation, early engagement ensures your building's technology is designed to last.
Call us on 1300 688 588 or email [email protected] to speak with a specialist.