A virtual training ground for Powering Urban Living with Owner-Hosted Broadband

Smart Urban Living Technology

In the heart of Chicago stands NEMA Chicago, an architectural marvel rising 896 feet into the sky – the tallest residential rental building in the city. Beyond its striking exterior and luxurious amenities, this 76-story skyscraper represents a groundbreaking advancement in urban connectivity, powered by DDSP's innovative Owner-Hosted Broadband solution.

The Challenge

Redefining Connectivity in Vertical Communities

As urban density increases, modern residential towers like NEMA Chicago face growing demands for robust, high-performance internet connectivity. Traditional approaches to multi-dwelling unit (MDU) broadband often fall short in several key areas:

- Bandwidth limitations during peak usage hours
- Inconsistent service quality across different units and floors
- Limited landlord control over network performance
- Inability to offer connectivity as a true amenity
- Complex provider relationships that frustrate residents

NEMA Chicago, with its 800 luxury units and tech-savvy residents, required a connectivity solution that would match the building's premium positioning and address these common challenges.

DDSP’s Solution

Owner-Hosted Broadband

DDSP implemented its comprehensive Owner-Hosted Broadband solution at NEMA Chicago, revolutionizing how internet service is delivered in high-density residential environments. This infrastructure-focused approach places ownership and control of the broadband network in the hands of the property owner rather than traditional ISPs.

Key Components of the Implementation

Unified Building IoT Platform: Integration with smart building systems, creating a cohesive technology ecosystem that enhances both operations and resident experience.

Building-Wide Fiber Infrastructure: A comprehensive fiber optic backbone extending throughout the entire building, creating a future-proof foundation for connectivity.

Enterprise-Grade Equipment: Deployment of carrier-class networking hardware typically found in corporate environments, providing exceptional reliability and performance.

Multiple Carrier Connections: Diverse physical connections to several tier-1 internet carriers, enabling redundancy and resistance to outages.

Software-Defined Network Management: Implementation of sophisticated network controls that allow for adaptive bandwidth allocation and traffic prioritization.

The Results

Transforming Residential Connectivity

The implementation at NEMA Chicago yielded impressive results across multiple dimensions:

For Residents

  • Instant-On Service: Immediate access to high-speed internet upon move-in without scheduling provider appointments.

  • Premium Performance: Consistent 1Gbps speeds throughout the building with exceptionally low latency.

  • Superior Experience: 24/7 support and dramatically reduced service interruptions.

  • Competitive Pricing: Premium service at rates lower than comparable individual subscriptions.

For Property Management

  • Enhanced Property Value: Significant differentiation from competing properties in the market.

  • New Revenue Stream: Creation of a profitable technology amenity within the building.

  • Operational Integration: Seamless connection with building systems for improved management.

  • Future-Ready Infrastructure: Capacity to support emerging technologies and increasing bandwidth demands.

NEMA Chicago stands as a compelling showcase of how DDSP's Owner-Hosted Broadband transforms residential connectivity from a utility service into a defining amenity. This implementation represents a forward-thinking approach to infrastructure that aligns perfectly with the evolving expectations of urban residents.

By placing ownership of this critical infrastructure with the property rather than third-party providers, DDSP has helped NEMA Chicago create a technology foundation that enhances resident satisfaction, increases property value, and establishes a new standard for connectivity in premium multi-dwelling environments.

The success of this project demonstrates DDSP's expertise in bridging the worlds of property development and technology infrastructure, creating solutions that address the unique challenges of modern urban living.