Before leasing an office, verify how the internet will support your actual work: simultaneous calls, cloud applications, file uploads and guest access. Ask who supports the connection, what happens during an outage and which details appear in writing. “Internet included” explains a billing item; it does not answer all of those operational questions.
For a small Houston firm, the useful test is whether the connection works at the desks and meeting areas you plan to use. You do not need to become a network engineer, but you do need clear answers from management and, when necessary, your IT provider.
Start With the Busiest Hour of Your Working Day
Write down what happens at the same time. A three-person practice might have two separate video appointments while a third person uploads scanned files. A team using a large cloud design file may have a different requirement from one mostly handling email. Include phones, shared printers and visitor devices in the conversation rather than counting laptops alone.
Download speed concerns data arriving at your office; upload speed concerns data leaving it. Both matter for two-way calls and sending large files. A headline download figure tells you little about an upload-heavy workflow.
As a planning reference, Zoom’s published bandwidth guidance, checked September 24, 2026, lists 2.6 Mbps upload and 1.8 Mbps download for a 720p group meeting on its desktop or mobile app. Three separate devices at those figures would total 7.8 Mbps up and 5.4 Mbps down before other traffic. That arithmetic is an illustration, not a recommended office service package: features, layouts and other applications change demand.
Ask What Is Shared and What Is Reserved
Ask management to explain the service in plain language. Is the quoted capacity for the building, your suite or an individual connection? Is there a committed minimum, or is the number the advertised maximum? Does the offer include Wi-Fi only, a wired connection, or both? If someone describes the service as “dedicated,” ask exactly what is dedicated.
Get the answer for the suite you are considering. A service available elsewhere in a building does not establish what is installed at your desk. If you need a separate provider, ask about permission, installation access, available cabling and the provider’s lead time before assuming you can add it after moving in.
Use a Real-Work Test During the Tour
With permission, bring a work device and test from the proposed office rather than standing beside the lobby router. Use nonconfidential sample material. A short test should include:
- A video call with someone outside the building, including a screen share.
- An upload and download representative of your normal file sizes.
- A check from the intended meeting area as well as the desk.
- A wired comparison if that connection is available and permitted.
- A note of the time, location and whether the building was busy.
Record interrupted audio, frozen video and the time a transfer takes, not just a speed-test screenshot. Zoom also provides in-app statistics for observing connection performance during a meeting. Your IT provider can help interpret those results if the call behaves poorly despite a fast speed test.
One successful test cannot establish long-term reliability. It can identify an immediate mismatch, and it gives you something concrete to discuss before signing. For the rest of the site visit, use our broader Houston office-tour checklist.
Clarify Support and the Outage Plan
Find out who you contact when the service fails: building management, a provider or your own IT company. Ask about support hours, what information they need and who can access the equipment. If response commitments or credits are offered, read their scope and exclusions in the service agreement.
Ask whether a backup connection exists and what it actually supports. Does it switch automatically? Has it been tested? Would it support your phones as well as laptops? Do not assume a building has a generator or a second internet provider because internet is included in rent.
A mobile hotspot may be an option for limited work, but test reception from the office and check your plan’s limits. It is not guaranteed to work during a wider disruption. Decide which appointments can move to audio, which work can pause and where you could work safely if the building is unavailable.
Bring Security Requirements to the Right Person
Ask your IT provider to review how your devices and guest access should be separated, whether the applications you use require a VPN or other configuration, and who controls passwords and equipment updates. A lockable office does not describe the network’s security. Conversely, a fast network does not establish suitability for confidential client information.
Tell management about any special installation needs before committing, but do not send passwords or client records as part of a leasing inquiry. Keep the discussion about requirements and responsibilities.
Confirm the Details for Your Suite
The 2019 Washington FAQ lists high-speed internet among the included amenities. It does not publish per-suite speed guarantees, network architecture or outage commitments. Arrange a tour and bring your working-day checklist so those details can be confirmed for your needs. Once you select a suite, include connection testing in your office move plan.