Business Network Design, Secure Wi-Fi and Managed Infrastructure
Secure wired and wireless infrastructure engineered around how your business actually operates. Site surveys, capacity planning, VLAN and switching design, and ongoing support across Northern Ireland.
Book a Wi-Fi site survey
Drakos Systems designs and installs business Wi-Fi across Northern Ireland. Site surveys, proper access point placement, guest networks and ongoing support.
Every organisation has different operational, security and performance requirements. Rather than recommending a single vendor, we assess your environment, users, applications and future growth before designing a network using the most appropriate technology.
Whether you operate a single office, multiple branches, a manufacturing facility, warehouse or distribution centre, we design secure, scalable network infrastructure that supports your business today and as it grows.
Our role is not to sell a particular brand. Our role is to design the right solution.
For Belfast-specific detail, see our Belfast Wi-Fi installation page.
Want guests, cameras and other devices kept off the office network? See network segmentation and VLAN isolation.
Engineering Before Products
Modern network infrastructure is no longer simply about installing wireless access points or replacing switches. Before recommending any equipment we consider:
- Building construction and layout
- User density and device counts
- Roaming requirements
- Voice traffic
- Video conferencing
- CCTV bandwidth
- Manufacturing equipment
- Warehouse scanners
- EPOS and payment systems
- Future expansion
- Security requirements and compliance
- High availability and disaster recovery
- Budget
Only then do we recommend the most suitable platform.
Our Network Design Process
Every project begins with understanding how the business operates. Our engineering process typically includes:
- Business requirements workshop
- Existing infrastructure review
- Wireless survey where required
- Security assessment
- Capacity planning
- IP addressing and VLAN design
- High availability and failover planning
- Product selection
- Implementation
- Testing and optimisation
- Documentation
- Ongoing support and monitoring
Infrastructure We Design and Support
- Multi-site business networks
- High-density Wi-Fi
- Warehousing and distribution centres
- Manufacturing and food production
- Retail premises and multi-site retail
- Professional services
- Hospitality
- Agriculture and rural sites
- Remote and hybrid workers
Vendor Independent Advice
Technology should solve business problems rather than create vendor lock-in. We work with a range of business networking, communications and security platforms, allowing us to recommend the most appropriate solution based on:
- Technical requirements
- Security
- Performance
- Budget
- Existing infrastructure
- Future expansion
- Operational resilience
Depending on the technical and commercial requirements, we deploy and support platforms including TP-Link Omada, Ubiquiti UniFi, Teltonika, Peplink, DrayTek, Yealink handsets and Microsoft 365 networking services. Our recommendations are based on engineering experience rather than a single manufacturer's product catalogue.
What a Business Wi-Fi Installation Includes
Site survey
We visit your premises, walk the building, and assess: wall materials (plasterboard is easy, brick is harder, concrete and metal are worst), floor plan, ceiling type (dropped ceilings make cable runs simple), number of users and devices, existing cabling, and what applications the Wi-Fi needs to support (VoIP, video meetings, guest access, card machines, warehouse scanners).
Design
Based on the survey, we design the access point layout. How many APs, where they go, what channels they use, and what cabling is needed. The design accounts for interference from neighbouring networks (Belfast offices are dense, particularly in the city centre where dozens of networks compete).
Cabling
Cat6 Ethernet from each access point location back to a central PoE switch. PoE (Power over Ethernet) means each AP gets data and power from a single cable. No separate power supplies. Clean installation with trunking or within ceiling voids where possible.
Access point installation
Ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted depending on the building. Positioned for optimal coverage, not just wherever is convenient. Each AP covers its designated zone with overlap for smooth roaming between zones.
Configuration
- Staff network - strong encryption, full access to business resources
- Guest network - isolated from business systems, captive portal with branding, bandwidth-limited
- IoT/CCTV network - separated on its own VLAN, no access to staff resources
- VoIP priority - QoS configured to prioritise voice traffic over downloads
- Cloud management - entire network visible and configurable from a dashboard, with alerts if anything goes offline
Testing and handover
Coverage tested in all areas. Speed tested. VoIP call quality verified. Guest portal tested. Documentation provided showing what was installed, where, and how to access the management dashboard.
Wireless coverage across the premises
Common Business Wi-Fi Problems We Fix Across Northern Ireland
- Dead spots in meeting rooms - internal walls and glass partitions block signal. An AP in the room or positioned to penetrate those specific walls fixes it.
- VoIP calls breaking up - the Wi-Fi is congested or the router does not prioritise voice. We separate VoIP to its own VLAN with QoS enabled.
- Staff and guests on the same network - a security risk. Guest devices can potentially see internal file shares, printers, and business systems. We isolate guest traffic completely.
- Slow Wi-Fi in multi-tenant buildings - common in Belfast city centre offices. Dozens of competing networks on the same channels cause interference. We survey the RF environment and configure channels to avoid congestion.
- Printers and scanners dropping offline - often caused by devices roaming between the router and an extender. Proper APs with consistent roaming and fixed VLAN assignment fix this permanently.
- Warehouse or workshop coverage - metal racking, steel walls, and large open spaces with no ceiling void for cables. We use outdoor-rated or industrial APs mounted at height, with directional antennas where needed.
Completed Work: Factory Wi-Fi 7 and Machine Isolation
Factory Floor, Entrance Corridor and Office
Task: Wi-Fi coverage across a factory floor, an entrance corridor and an office area, managed from one place, with the factory machines kept separate from the office network.
Work completed: Ten Wi-Fi 7 access points installed and commissioned in , eight on the factory floor and one each in the corridor and office. New CAT6 cabling to every access point, a multi-gigabit PoE switch and an on-site controller for central management. All ten access point links were checked at 2.5 Gbps, and a live Wi-Fi Calling session stayed connected during a walk-through of the coverage areas. The machines on the factory floor were then isolated on their own network segment, separate from the office network.
TP-Link Omada, Ubiquiti UniFi and Other Platforms
There is no single best networking platform. For many organisations, TP-Link Omada provides a good balance of performance, reliability, centralised management, security features, scalability and cost effectiveness.
Our Wi-Fi and networking work is led by an Omada Certified Network Administrator in Wireless and Routing & Switching, which means the platform is configured properly rather than left on defaults. We also deploy Ubiquiti UniFi, and for businesses wanting cameras and door access managed alongside the network, UniFi is often the better fit.
For more complex environments we may recommend alternative enterprise platforms where they better meet operational or compliance requirements. Every recommendation is based on your requirements rather than a preferred vendor.
Read our detailed TP-Link Omada vs Ubiquiti UniFi comparison to understand the differences.
Who This Is For
- Offices across Northern Ireland with poor Wi-Fi coverage or reliability
- Retail premises needing guest Wi-Fi separated from business systems
- Clinics and healthcare practices needing secure, reliable wireless
- Hospitality venues (hotels, cafes, bars) needing branded guest portals
- Warehouses and workshops needing coverage in difficult RF environments
- Multi-floor offices where a single router cannot cover the building
- Businesses deploying VoIP that need Wi-Fi to support call quality
- Schools and training centres needing managed student/staff network separation
Coverage
All of Northern Ireland: Belfast, Lisburn, Newry, Derry/Londonderry, Bangor, Craigavon, Ballymena, Antrim, Omagh, Enniskillen, Dungannon, Cookstown, and everywhere in between.
Need ongoing Wi-Fi maintenance after installation? Ask about our support contracts.
Why Contact Us Directly
| Marketplace enquiry | Direct with Drakos |
|---|---|
| Your details go to several unknown companies | You speak directly to the person doing the work |
| Price often comes before a proper survey | We survey first, then quote accurately |
| Harder to judge technical quality | You can ask exactly how the install will be done |
| Installer may be subcontracted | You know who is responsible from survey to handover |
| No ongoing relationship | We offer maintenance and support after installation |
Book a Wi-Fi Site Survey in Northern Ireland
I will visit your premises, check coverage, identify problems, and provide a fixed-price quote. No obligation. Available across Northern Ireland.
Related
Engineer's Notes: Business Wi-Fi Is Planned, Not Guessed
Adding more access points does not automatically improve Wi-Fi. In offices, shops, factories and hospitality sites we often find too many access points transmitting at full power on overlapping channels. The result can be poor roaming, interference and devices holding onto the wrong access point.
We assess channel utilisation, signal strength, building materials, client density and the mix of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz devices. Critical systems such as tills, VoIP handsets, tablets and business laptops can then be placed on suitable SSIDs and VLANs, while guest, CCTV and IoT traffic is kept separate. Managed Wi-Fi also gives us visibility of channel use, client health and repeated connection problems instead of relying on guesswork.
Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 can improve capacity and efficiency, but the design still matters. A correctly positioned and tuned system will usually perform better than a larger number of poorly planned access points.
Technical review: Prepared and reviewed by Kieran Bourquin, Drakos Systems. Last reviewed .
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does business Wi-Fi installation cost in Northern Ireland?
The cost depends on the number of access points, the cable runs and the building layout. A small office may need 1 or 2 access points, while larger premises need more for full coverage. The quote covers cabling, configuration and the site survey, and is confirmed after the survey.
What is the difference between home Wi-Fi and business Wi-Fi?
Business Wi-Fi uses enterprise-grade access points designed for higher device counts and continuous use. It includes VLAN separation (keeping staff, guest, and IoT traffic apart), a dedicated guest network with a captive portal, central cloud management, PoE cabling so each AP gets power and data from one cable, and proper coverage planning based on a site survey. A home router does none of this.
How many access points do I need for my business?
It depends on your floor area, wall construction materials, and the number of devices connecting. A small open-plan office may need just 1 or 2 APs, while a multi-floor building with brick or concrete walls could need 6 or more. We determine the exact number during a site survey where we assess the building and design the layout before quoting.
Can you set up a separate guest Wi-Fi network?
Yes. We configure a VLAN-isolated guest network with its own captive portal (which can be branded with your logo). Guest traffic is completely separated from your business systems, and we apply bandwidth limits so guests cannot consume all your available connection speed. Your internal files, printers, and devices remain invisible to anyone on the guest network.
Do you use TP-Link Omada for business Wi-Fi?
Yes. Our Wi-Fi work is led by an Omada Certified Network Administrator in Wireless and Routing & Switching. Omada is a cloud-managed system, meaning you (and we) can monitor and configure your entire network from anywhere through a web dashboard. It supports VLANs, guest portals, PPSK (individual passwords per device), and automatic firmware updates. It is often a good fit, but we are not tied to one manufacturer: we also install Ubiquiti UniFi and other business-grade systems, and choose the platform to suit the building and how you want to manage it.