At ZA Support, we've worked with more than 15,000 businesses and offices across Johannesburg's suburbs—from Sandton to Midrand to the CBD—and UniFi installation has become part of our core managed IT services. We don't just install the kit and disappear. We assess your space, size your system properly, and make sure it actually solves your connectivity problem. That's what this post covers: the real cost, what's included, and what separates a R3,000 bodge from a R15,000 installation that works for three years.
Understanding UniFi Installation Costs in Johannesburg
UniFi is Ubiquiti's enterprise-grade wireless networking solution, and it's become the standard for medium-sized offices and retail spaces across Johannesburg. But cost depends almost entirely on three variables: coverage area, number of access points, and whether you need professional installation or not.
A single access point (like the UniFi 6 Lite) costs around R2,200 to R2,800 outright. That's the hardware. Installation—the part we focus on—is where the real work happens. At ZA Support, we start every UniFi job with a site assessment, which costs from R599 and takes about 45 minutes. We walk the building, measure signal strength, identify dead zones, and work out how many access points you actually need, not how many a salesman thinks will look good on an invoice.
For a typical small office (300–500 square metres) in areas like Rosebank or Sunninghill, a two-access-point system with professional installation runs R6,500 to R10,500. A medium installation (five to eight access points across a 1,500–2,000 square-metre floor) typically lands between R14,000 and R22,000. Larger deployments—retail chains, warehouses, corporate offices—can exceed R35,000, but you get managed switching, power-over-ethernet infrastructure, and ongoing support included.
What's Actually Included in Installation
This is where most quotes fall apart. We have seen clients get "quotes" that are just hardware cost plus "installation" with no detail whatsoever. We do things differently.
Our installation includes: physical site survey and signal mapping; planning of access point placement for optimal coverage and minimal interference; cable runs (we route Ethernet properly, not along pipes or heating ducts where interference degrades throughput); power-over-ethernet switch setup and configuration; UniFi Controller configuration (the software that manages all your access points from one dashboard); initial testing and handover; and full documentation of your network setup.
We also include a three-year hardware warranty on all Ubiquiti equipment we install. That means if an access point fails—whether from power surge, load shedding damage, or component failure—we replace it at no cost. Johannesburg's load shedding is unpredictable, and we've seen it destroy network hardware repeatedly, so the warranty matters more here than in other cities.
One thing we don't do: we don't do "cheap" installations. If your budget is R2,000 for a 2,000-square-metre space, we'll tell you that's not realistic and explain why. Contact us for a genuine consultation rather than a polite rejection wrapped in a quote.
UniFi Installation vs. Standard WiFi
A lot of business owners ask why UniFi costs more than just buying a consumer router from Takealot and letting their IT person set it up. The answer is reliability and manageability.
Consumer routers (like standard WiFi 6 home kits) are designed for 5–10 devices in a home. They drop connections under load, can't handle more than 30 simultaneous users reliably, and offer no central management. UniFi is designed for enterprise environments: it handles 100+ devices per access point, offers seamless roaming (you walk from one room to another and your connection stays alive), and gives you visibility into every device on the network.
For a 15-person law firm or architectural practice, that difference is worth the extra R4,000 to R7,000 compared to consumer gear. For a retail shop with 40 staff, 30 customers' phones, and multiple tills and cameras on network, it's non-negotiable.
We've also repaired the aftermath of poor wireless installations—devices constantly disconnecting, office staff unable to work, CCTV feeds dropping—and the cost of downtime usually exceeds what a proper installation would have cost from day one.
UniFi Costs by Johannesburg Location
Johannesburg's sprawl means installation costs vary by suburb, not just by system size.
In the CBD and Rosebank, where office spaces are typically dense high-rises with concrete floors and heavy interference from neighboring networks, you'll pay 5–10% more because cable runs are longer and access point placement is more critical. A two-access-point job in a CBD office might be R8,200 instead of R7,500 in a Midrand business park.
In suburbs like Sandton, Sunninghill, or Kyalami, where businesses tend to have single-floor or double-floor premises with better cable access, installation costs drop slightly—typical two-AP setups run R6,800 to R8,500.
In industrial areas like Kempton Park or the East Rand, where warehouses dominate and coverage is the main challenge, costs rise again because you need more access points and mounting infrastructure, often including external-grade equipment. A 3,000-square-metre warehouse UniFi setup can run R18,000 to R26,000.
Load shedding also drives cost variation. In areas with severe or unpredictable load shedding, we recommend battery backup for the UniFi Controller (a small UPS), which adds R1,200 to R2,000 but ensures your network stays managed even during rolling blackouts.
Why Professional Installation Matters
We have seen UniFi installations go wrong in every possible way. A technician who placed four access points in a straight line along one wall. A business owner who bought eight access points but configured them all as masters instead of slaves, creating network chaos. A retailer who ran Ethernet cables under a large neon sign and watched signal quality plummet.
Professional installation isn't a luxury. It's the difference between spending R12,000 on a system that works for three years and spending R7,000 on hardware that creates more problems than it solves within six months.
Our technicians complete liquid-damage repairs and logic-board restoration on site, meaning we understand how sensitive network equipment is to environmental factors. We apply that knowledge to every UniFi deployment.
Getting Your UniFi Installation Quote
Start with the R599 assessment. Book online at zasupport.com/book or WhatsApp us on 064 529 5863 to schedule one. We'll visit your site, measure actual coverage needs, and give you a fixed quote—no "it depends" or vague estimates.
If budget is a concern, we can phase installations: start with two access points covering critical areas, then add more as your business grows. We've worked with startups that began with a single-AP system in a small office and expanded to five APs across 1,500 square metres over two years.
The warranty, the documentation, the follow-up support—that's what you're paying for beyond the hardware. It's what separates a UniFi installation from a UniFi deployment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does UniFi installation take?
A typical installation takes 4–8 hours, depending on building size and cable routing complexity. We schedule work outside business hours when possible to avoid disrupting your office. Larger deployments may require two visits: one for cabling and infrastructure, one for activation and testing.
Q: Do I need to replace my existing router?
Yes. UniFi replaces your existing router entirely. The UniFi system becomes your network's core. We'll decommission your old hardware and set up the new controller on a dedicated device or cloud instance.
Q: Can UniFi handle my office's load shedding?
The access points themselves run on power-over-ethernet (PoE) from the main switch, which you'll plug in via UPS. A modest UPS (R1,500–R2,500) will keep your network alive for 30–45 minutes during a load shedding event. Your WiFi will stay up even if your lights don't.
Q: What if I need to expand later?
Expansion is straightforward. Adding a third or fourth access point to an existing UniFi network costs the hardware price plus roughly R800–R1,200 per unit for professional installation and configuration. The system scales without disruption.
Q: How do I monitor my UniFi network after installation?
The UniFi Controller app gives you real-time visibility: connected devices, bandwidth usage, signal strength, and potential interference. You can manage everything from your phone. We also offer optional 24/7 monitoring and support for an additional fee.
Q: What warranty do I actually get?
Three years on all Ubiquiti hardware (access points, switches, controllers) against manufacturing defect and component failure. Damage from physical impact, water, or unauthorised modification isn't covered, but load shedding damage is, because we recognise it's endemic to Johannesburg.
