The latest report from WiredScore, titled “Fit for lease: How digital connectivity became the new test for Class A offices,” reveals that 81 percent of tenants would choose an office space with pre-installed connectivity over one without. The report also highlights that 99 percent of respondents expect the introduction of AI into their organisations within the next two years. For 94 percent, connectivity is now as fundamental to their business as other utilities. The study also found that 89 percent would not renew their lease due to poor connectivity, while 88 percent would sign a longer lease for superior connectivity.
John Meko, Vice President for North America at WiredScore, expressed surprise at the survey results, even as an industry veteran. He shared this surprise with Meter, a leading provider of internet infrastructure for businesses. Meter had acquired WiredScore, which has long been a global standard for evaluating digital connectivity, in February 2026.
Expectation Gap and Structural Problem
Meko emphasised that tenants in today's office market are increasingly reliant on basic connectivity infrastructure to operate their businesses. In 2026, tenants signing a lease in a Class A or B commercial office building generally assume this is a solved problem. However, the data showed that this is not the case. A significant gap between expectation and reality represents a constant point of friction in the move-in process.
This gap is not attributable to any single actor, but rather is a structural problem in the way connectivity is delivered in office buildings. Unlike other utilities such as water or electricity, connectivity cannot be directly controlled by the landlord. Landlords know that tenants view connectivity as a utility-like service and cannot work without reliable internet and Wi-Fi. However, the installation and commissioning process is complicated and fragmented. This is evidenced by the fact that only one in four tenants had fully functional internet upon lease commencement.
Meter as a Solution and Market Trends
Meter and WiredScore are committed to closing this gap by bringing a utility-like experience to office buildings. Meko explained that they make speculative investments in infrastructure before tenants sign contracts, thus enabling a turnkey solution upon move-in. This strategy also appears to be confirmed by the survey results, which Meko describes as independent and supported by over 600 decision-makers.
WiredScore's report also underlines a shift in tenant preferences. Between 2019 and today, the number of ready-to-occupy spaces on the market has increased by 50 percent. Lease transactions for such spaces typically occur 30 to 40 percent faster than for fully unfurnished spaces from previous years. Tenants “vote with their leases” by prioritising ready-to-occupy spaces as part of their real estate strategy. The next development will be tenants increasingly favouring technologically equipped spaces.
- —81% of tenants prefer office spaces with pre-installed connectivity.
- —99% expect AI implementation within two years.
- —89% would not renew a lease due to poor connectivity.
- —88% would sign a longer lease for superior connectivity.
Meter is scaling this model in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Germany. The model is cost-neutral for landlords, as Meter makes speculative investments in the spaces. This enables turnkey connectivity, which simplifies collaboration with internet and cabling providers as well as Wi-Fi infrastructure companies such as Cisco or Palo Alto Networks.
