Shared 30 November, 2025
At PropTech Connect Europe, one theme was clear: connectivity now sits at the heart of real estate’s transformation and it has become a priority for investors, developers, and operators alike.
Tenants expect smart, seamless environments; investors want verifiable sustainability; and regulators are tightening standards for energy performance and digital readiness. Every innovation, from ESG dashboards and digital twins to AI-driven operations, depends on one essential layer: the network infrastructure that connects it all. Governments are investing in national fiber networks, but the expectation is that the property sector will extend that connectivity indoors. The challenge isn’t vision, it’s foundation.
Every building has a network backbone. For decades, that backbone was copper, the same technology that once carried phone calls and early internet traffic. But copper was never designed for the data-intensive, AI-powered world of today.
Fiber is redefining in-building networks, replacing layers of cabling and power-hungry switches with one high-capacity, energy-efficient architecture. Its reach, durability, and bandwidth make it ideal for everything from high-rise offices to large campuses. A modern connectivity backbone is more than a technical upgrade; it’s a strategic investment. Reliable, high-speed connectivity enhances tenant satisfaction, improves retention, supports premium pricing, and strengthens long-term property valuation.
The essential nutrients in real estate’s high-fiber diet
1) Sustainability you can measure
Across the real estate community, sustainability remains the defining priority. Frameworks like BREEAM reward measurable improvements in energy, materials, and occupant wellbeing. Fiber contributes in each area: its efficiency supports energy credits, its streamlined design reduces waste, and its quiet, low-heat operation improves indoor comfort. With fewer active components, fiber networks can reduce power consumption by up to 40%, lowering emissions and boosting sustainability ratings. Independent studies show fiber-based networks can lift sustainability scores while cutting operational emissions, turning infrastructure decisions into measurable ESG progress.
2) No more silos: build an open stack
As buildings become smarter, openness is essential. The goal isn’t to add more silos but to connect systems, lighting, access control, HVAC, sensors, and ESG platforms, into one interoperable ecosystem. With virtually unlimited bandwidth, fiber powers Wi-Fi 7, IoT, and smart-building systems, ensuring consistent, high-speed connectivity. Fiber architectures support this approach, integrating easily with enterprise Wi-Fi, automation, and analytics platforms. This flexibility reduces deployment risk, simplifies operations, and allows owners to adopt new technologies over time without redesigning their networks.
3) From expense to asset: making the network work for you
Real estate’s digital transformation is about creating smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable spaces that people love to occupy and investors trust to perform. Fiber replaces layers of cabling and power-hungry switches with one high-capacity, energy-efficient architecture: up to 70% less cabling and minimal floor-space requirements free valuable real estate and simplify retrofits. With lifespans of 50 years or more that align with the building itself, reducing maintenance and refresh costs and cutting total cost of ownership by as much as half-fiber connectivity turns the network from a hidden cost into a strategic asset that reduces energy use, streamlines operations, and supports innovation for decades.
Every building has a network backbone. For decades, that backbone was copper, the same technology that once carried phone calls and early internet traffic. But copper was never designed for the data-intensive, AI-powered world of today.
For developers and asset owners, this is a strategic opportunity. Connectivity is no longer a utility, but a differentiator shaping tenant experience, operational efficiency, and long-term value. Fiber-based networks enable efficiency, cut costs, and future-proof portfolios, turning buildings into high-performing, high-value assets. The question is no longer if you need advanced connectivity, but whether your properties can stay competitive without it.
The conversations at PropTech Connect EU25 made it clear that digital infrastructure is now central to real estate value. Whether the goal is meeting ESG commitments, enhancing tenant experience, or future-proofing investments, the right network foundation makes it possible.
For real estate leaders, that foundation is fiber; sustainable, scalable, and ready for the innovations of tomorrow.
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