A construction project starts using digital systems well before the finished building has a permanent internet service. Drawings, document control, inductions, cloud platforms and video meetings all need a working connection in the site compound.
As the project grows, the network may also need to reach additional offices, selected work areas, cameras and access-control systems. Connectivity should be planned as part of site establishment, with a way to adapt as the build changes.
Capti assesses construction-site internet and Wi-Fi requirements across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, including fixed-wireless options and a transition to permanent services where appropriate.
Connect the site office first
Start with the people and systems in the compound. List the office users, cloud applications, video meetings, large drawing transfers and any remote access requirements. Upload capacity matters when teams send models, photos, documents or camera footage off site.
Decide which equipment should be wired. Office workstations, meeting-room systems and network equipment may benefit from cabling, while Wi-Fi supports laptops, tablets and mobile users.
A clear brief makes it easier to compare service options on practical requirements rather than headline download speed alone.
Where fixed wireless can fit
Fixed wireless uses a radio link between the site and another network location. It can be assessed when permanent fibre is not yet available or its delivery programme does not match the construction schedule.
Capti can assess high-capacity links, including mmWave designs with speeds up to 10Gbps where suitable. That is a design option, not a speed available at every address. Radio path, distance, mounting, equipment and network capacity determine what can be offered.
A usable path and stable mounting position are essential. Cranes, rising structures and changes to the compound can affect the link, so the assessment should consider the planned build stages as well as the current site.
Extend Wi-Fi to the areas that need it
A router inside a metal site shed is not a site-wide Wi-Fi plan. Cabins, concrete structures, changing partitions and outdoor work areas create different coverage challenges.
Mark the required coverage areas on the site plan. These might include the compound, meeting rooms, an induction area and selected work zones. The proposal should specify access-point placement, cabling or wireless distribution, power and environmental protection.
Distinguish coverage from capacity: being able to see a network name does not mean the connection will support the expected workload.
Separate staff, visitors and site systems
A construction network may serve the principal contractor, subcontractors, visitors, cameras and other equipment. Give each group the access it needs and restrict access to unrelated systems.
Camera traffic deserves its own assessment. Continuous uploads can consume substantial upstream bandwidth, while local recording with occasional remote viewing has a different pattern. Confirm the requirements with the camera supplier.
Network connectivity should not be assumed to replace dedicated life-safety communications. Any safety-critical system needs its own requirements and responsible specialist identified in the project design.
Design for relocation and growth
Site compounds move. Extra floors open. New subcontractors arrive. Agree how the network will be surveyed, extended and recommissioned as those changes occur.
The proposal should identify who authorises changes, the lead time for relocation and how additional work is charged. Keep equipment and cabling records so the next project phase does not depend on someone remembering the original installation.
Plan continuity and permanent handover
If the site depends on cloud systems, discuss backup connectivity and power. Check shared dependencies and test the applications that matter during a failover exercise. Read our guide to fibre and fixed-wireless diversity for the questions to ask.
Where permanent fibre is part of the development, coordinate communications rooms, pathways and building entry early. The temporary service may need to remain until the permanent connection is installed, accepted and ready for use.
Our bespoke fibre guide explains the decisions involved in that longer-term design.
Give Capti the site brief
Send the site address, compound plan, programme, expected users, coverage areas and details of camera or other connected systems. Include relocation dates and any target date for permanent connectivity.
Discuss construction-site connectivity with Capti. We will assess availability and delivery requirements for the location. For related planning across events and permanent facilities, see Preparing Brisbane for 2032.
