Why new offices end up with no internet
It's one of the most common surprises in an office move. The lease date was fixed months ago, the internet was ordered along with the fit-out, and the activation date comes back weeks after move-in. Sometimes the building needs new equipment, sometimes the address has an issue in the provider's records, and sometimes an appointment is missed and has to be rebooked.
Activation time depends on the address and what's already installed, from a couple of business days for a straightforward connection to several weeks when new installation work is needed. Our guide on how long internet takes to connect explains the factors in more detail.
How we cover the gap and switch over
Check the order
Tell us your activation date and what your provider has said. The temporary plan is built around the realistic date, not the hoped-for one.
Temporary connection
Usually a 4G/5G router placed where signal is strongest, or more than one for a larger team. If the building has a usable shared service, that may be the better option.
Office network
A business router, access points for the floor, and separate networks for staff, guests and devices such as printers. Staff connect once and keep those settings.
Switch-over day
When the permanent service is active, we test it, move the network onto it and keep the same WiFi names, so devices reconnect on their own.
Afterwards
The temporary connection can stay as a backup if you want one, or we collect it.
Is a temporary connection enough for your team?
A rough guide for the gap period, based on typical office use. We confirm on-site.
| Team size | Devices (1.5–2 each) | Typical temporary approach |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 people | 15–20 | One 4G/5G router and one access point or mesh node |
| 10–30 people | 15–60 | One or two 4G/5G routers, with access points for each area |
| 30–60 people | 45–120 | Two or more mobile connections, or the building's service if it has capacity; plan upload carefully |
| 60+ people or heavy uploads | 120+ | Talk to us early: mobile alone may not carry it, and a different temporary approach may be needed |
Mobile upload is limited and depends on the site, so teams that send large files should plan the gap period carefully.
Send a floor plan or the venue name. We reply with what the network needs and one written quote.
What staff notice during the gap, and what they shouldn't
During the gap, the main difference staff may notice is upload: big file transfers and many simultaneous video calls are slower on mobile than on a good fixed line. Everything else should feel like a normal office. We give calls and business systems priority over phone updates, and keep guest devices off the staff network.
What they shouldn't notice is the switch-over. Because the WiFi names and passwords stay the same, laptops and phones simply carry on when the network moves to the permanent line. Printers and any security cameras on their own part of the network move across at the same time.
What to do now if your new office internet is late
- Get the confirmed activation date in writing from your provider
- Ask whether a technician appointment is needed at the address
- Count staff, devices and anyone who works with large files
- Find out where the building's telecommunications room or entry point is
- Check which desks or rooms need wired connections
- Decide whether to keep the temporary connection as a backup afterwards
- Send us the floor plan and your move-in date
Questions people ask
What can I do if my new office has no NBN yet?
If your new office has no NBN yet, a temporary 4G/5G connection with proper office WiFi can carry the team until the service is active. Check the confirmed activation date first, then size the temporary connection for your headcount and upload needs. When the NBN is live, the network moves onto it.
How long does business internet take to connect at a new office?
Business internet at a new office can take anywhere from a couple of business days to several weeks to connect. It depends on the address, the technology available, and whether new equipment has to be installed. Get a confirmed date from your provider, and plan temporary internet around that date rather than the earliest estimate.
Will we have to reconnect every device after the switch-over?
Devices don't need reconnecting after the switch-over when the WiFi names and passwords stay the same. That's planned from the start: the temporary office network is built to carry on, and only the internet connection behind it changes. Printers and other wired devices move across with it.
Can a 4G/5G router run a whole office?
A 4G/5G router can run a small office well, and larger teams may need more than one mobile connection. The limits are upload, which is lower than on a good fixed line and varies by location, and indoor signal in some buildings. Teams sending large files or running many calls at once need careful planning for the gap.
Can we keep the temporary connection as a backup?
Yes. After your permanent line goes live, the 4G/5G connection used during the gap can stay as a backup. Where the router supports failover, it switches to the backup if the main line drops, so payments, calls and email keep going during an outage. Tell us before switch-over day so it's part of the final configuration.
