When a business moves premises, the furniture, the signage and the lease get most of the attention. The internet connection is often left until the last week — and then the team arrives on Monday morning to find no WiFi, no card payments and no way to reach customers. A little planning a few weeks ahead makes the difference between a smooth move and several lost days of work.
Start the conversation early
Contact your internet provider as soon as you have a confirmed new address. The first question is simple: is the new building already covered, and is there an existing line or fibre point you can use? If the building needs new cabling run in from the street, or approval from the landlord or building management for equipment on the roof or in the riser, that takes time. Finding out early means you can sort it out before moving day instead of during it.
Visit the new space with your network in mind
Before you sign off on where desks go, walk through the new office and think about how the connection will reach everyone. A few things to look at:
- Where the connection comes in. The router is usually placed near where the line enters the building, which is not always a sensible spot for good WiFi coverage.
- Thick walls and multiple rooms. Concrete walls, glass partitions and separate floors all weaken WiFi. You may need extra access points or a cabled connection to back offices.
- Power points. Your router, switches and any CCTV recorder need reliable power, ideally on a UPS so a short outage doesn’t take you offline.
- A safe home for equipment. A small, ventilated cabinet or shelf away from foot traffic protects your network gear from knocks and dust.
Decide what should be cabled, not wireless
A move is the best opportunity you will get to install proper structured cabling, because the walls are empty and nobody is working yet. Fixed devices like reception PCs, POS terminals, printers, IP phones and CCTV cameras all work better on a cable than over WiFi. Running those cables before you move in is far cheaper and tidier than drilling around a busy office later.
Review your package while you’re at it
Moving often comes with growth — more staff, more customers, more devices. Take the chance to check whether your current speed still fits. Think about how many people will be on video calls at the same time, whether you’re backing files up to the cloud, and whether you’ll need guest WiFi for visitors. It’s also a good moment to ask about a static IP if you want to view CCTV remotely or let staff connect to office systems from home.
Plan the switchover, not just the installation
Ideally the new connection is installed and tested a few days before the team moves, with the old one kept running until everyone has left. That overlap gives you time to fix any surprises. On the day itself, have someone responsible for checking that:
- The WiFi name and password are the same as before, so phones and laptops reconnect automatically.
- Card machines, printers and phones are connected and working before the first customer walks in.
- A speed test from a few different rooms shows good results, not just next to the router.
- Everyone knows the support number to call if something isn’t right.
Don’t forget the old premises
Give your provider notice for the old address so you’re not billed for a connection nobody is using, and collect any equipment that belongs to you. Wipe saved settings or passwords from any device you’re leaving behind.
At WebSpace Internet we help businesses around Kasarani and Nairobi plan office moves from the network side — checking coverage at the new address, running structured cabling, and getting you connected with free installation and unlimited, no-throttle packages from Ksh 1,500 per month, backed by 24/7 support. If you have a move coming up, call us on 0702 447 334 or visit our contact page and we’ll help you get it right the first time.