Moving or opening a business location? Internet, cabling, Wi-Fi, phones, security and vendor coordination can delay opening day even when construction looks finished. This timeline shows what should happen before those dependencies become emergencies.
What you'll learn
- When to check Internet and carrier availability.
- When MDF/IDF, conduit, cabling and power decisions must be made.
- When to configure and test network, voice and security systems.
- What should be validated before the old office is disconnected.
Short answer
Start technology planning months before opening day. Carrier availability, building pathways, landlord approvals and construction can take longer than installing the equipment itself. The most common failure is waiting until the physical space looks nearly complete before addressing technology dependencies.
What usually goes wrong
The carrier cannot deliver to the suite without construction. Conduit ends in the wrong location. The MDF has no power. The firewall arrives after the circuit. Phone numbers are ported too early. The old connection is cancelled before the new location passes testing. These are coordination failures—not simply IT problems.
180–120 days: establish dependencies
- Confirm exact address, suite and occupancy date.
- Check carrier/serviceability and realistic lead times.
- Identify MDF/IDF, demarc, pathways, risers and landlord requirements.
- Define the systems the business cannot operate without.
120–90 days: design and order
- Finalize network, Wi-Fi, security and voice requirements.
- Coordinate low-voltage drawings, conduit, power and rack locations.
- Order long-lead connectivity and equipment.
90–60 days: build the infrastructure
- Install and test cabling and pathways.
- Coordinate carrier demarc extension.
- Prepare firewall, switching, Wi-Fi, voice and security configurations.
60–30 days: coordinate the cutover
- Confirm installation dates and vendor dependencies.
- Validate IP, DNS, VPN, cloud and remote-access changes.
- Plan overlap with the old location.
30–7 days: test before the business moves
- Turn up circuits and test failover.
- Install and validate network, Wi-Fi, voice, cameras and access.
- Test critical applications from the new location.
Opening week: acceptance, not experimentation
- Perform acceptance testing.
- Document circuits, equipment, ownership and escalation paths.
- Close punch-list items.
- Cancel old services only when the new environment is verified and stable.
What not to do
- Do not order Internet during the final week of construction.
- Do not assume the landlord or general contractor is coordinating the carrier handoff.
- Do not allow low-voltage pathways to be decided without the technology plan.
- Do not port phone numbers or cancel old services before the cutover plan is validated.
- Do not make opening day the first full-system test.
What you should know when you're finished
You should know who owns every major dependency, whether the circuits and infrastructure are ready, what remains on the punch list and whether the business can operate before employees and customers arrive.
Related questions
How early should Internet be ordered for an office move?
Early enough to allow for serviceability, construction and landlord coordination. For complex buildings or dedicated services, several months may be appropriate.
Who should own the technology cutover?
One accountable party should maintain the dependency plan across the carrier, cabling, network, voice, security, construction and business teams.
Related: CompFlorida office move & facility planning →
Planning a move or opening?
Bring the address, target opening date, floor plan if available and the systems the business cannot operate without. We can help expose the dependencies before they become opening-day problems.
PLAN A PROJECTLast reviewed: September 21, 2026.