Bulk Internet for Apartment Buildings: Benefits, Risks and How to Choose

Bulk Internet for condominiumsand apartmentshas been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years. This is a system whereby the entire building enters into a single contract and all tenants have access to Internet service. It is attracting attention as a way for property owners to add value to their properties and for tenants to save on communication costs and simplify procedures.

However, while there are various advantages to installingbulkInternet, there are also disadvantages to consider. This article details the advantages and disadvantages of bulk Internet from the perspective of both property owners and tenants. We will also explain in detail the key points for selecting a vendor and the introduction process for those who are considering the introduction of this system.

We will provide information that will be an appropriate decision-making tool forreal estate owners seeking to strengthen the competitiveness of their properties and improve tenant satisfaction, as well asfor those who are considering moving intoInternet-equipped properties.

What is Bulk Internet?

BulkInternet is a service in which the owner or management association of a condominium or apartment building contracts for an Internet connection for the entire building and provides it to all tenants. In this service, the Internet usage fee is included in the management fee and common service fee, so the tenants perceive the property as having "free Internet".

How Bulk Internet Works

The bulk Internet system is realized by installing fiber-optic or other lines into the building and wiring them to each room. Residents can access the Internet through information outlets and Wi-Fi routers installed in their rooms without having to go through individual contract procedures.

With the conventional individual contract system, each resident has to sign a contract with a provider of his/her choice and pay fees individually. On the other hand,with bulk Internet, theentire building is under one contract, enabling cost reductions through economies of scale.

Types of Bulk Internet

The main types of Bulk Internet are as follows

1.Fiber optic line type - Optical fiber is run to each room for high-speed communication.

2.VDSL type - existing telephone lines can be used inside the building, and can be installed at relatively low cost

3.Wi-Fi for all units: Wi-Fi coverage by installing wireless access points in the building

Basic Comparison of Individual and Bulk Contracts

Item	Individual contract method	Lump-sum contract method
Contract Entity	Individual resident	Property owner/management association
Monthly Fee	Paid directly by the resident	Included in management and common service fees
Initial cost	Tenant pays (construction costs, etc.)	Owner pays (entire building)
Freedom of line selection	High (free choice)	Low (only designated lines)
Procedures at move-in	Necessary (contract and installation)	Unnecessary (available on the same day)
Procedures when moving out	Necessary (cancellation procedures)	Not required
Estimated charge (monthly)	Approx. 4,000 yen to 6,000 yen	Actual 1,000 yen to 2,000 yen

What Does "Building-Wide Bulk Internet" Actually Mean?

The same service circulates under several names — "building-wide bulk internet," "apartment bulk internet," "internet included at no charge" — so it helps to fix the terminology first.

"Building-wide" simply means every unit in the building, including vacant ones. That single fact largely determines how the arrangement works. The owner or the building's management association signs one contract covering the whole building, and the service is supplied uniformly to every unit — a tenant cannot opt out unit by unit. The flip side is that tenants never have to apply for the service, and never have to cancel it when they move out.

Readers familiar with the U.S. rental market will recognize the model: many multifamily buildings there use "bulk billing" arrangements, where the property owner contracts with a single ISP for the entire building and folds the cost into rent or a mandatory amenity fee. The Japanese version works much the same way, with one structural difference worth flagging. In the U.S., the FCC's 2022 restrictions on "exclusive marketing arrangements" require owners who use bulk billing to let a tenant add a competing provider's service at the tenant's own expense, and require clearer disclosure of the arrangement on the lease. Japan has no equivalent rule: an owner who goes bulk carries no legal obligation to preserve a tenant's right to add a second line, though many buildings permit it informally as a self-funded add-on.

Comparison	Building-wide bulk contract	Individual contract
Who signs the contract	The building owner or management association	Each individual tenant
Units covered	Every unit, including vacancies	Only units that sign up
Who pays	The owner (built into rent / common-area fees)	The tenant (paid directly to the carrier or ISP)
Tenant's choice of provider	None (a self-funded second line is sometimes possible)	Free choice of carrier and plan
Cost during vacancy	Still incurred	None
Activation at move-in	Live from day one	Wait for application and installation

When a listing advertises "internet included," that means tenants pay nothing extra — not that no one pays. The owner bears the cost, and it is priced into the level of rent and common-area fees. So the real question when weighing this decision isn't "can we make it free?" but "can this recurring cost be recovered through rent and occupancy?"

The other structural point is that bulk internet is a fixed cost that keeps running even on vacant units. The lower a building's occupancy rate, the heavier the effective per-unit burden becomes, which is why the decision gets easier the higher the occupancy runs. In practice, the sequence for evaluating a proposal should start with vacancy rate and average tenancy length, and only then look at the total monthly outlay.

Advantages for property owners

There are a wide range of benefits thata real estate ownercan gain by introducingbulk Internet for condominiums. From strengthening the competitiveness of properties to improving long-term profitability, it is worth considering from a variety of perspectives.

Adding value and differentiating your property

The Internet has become an essential infrastructure in modern life, and the added value of "free Internet" has become an important factor in property selection decisions. Especially for properties targeting young adults and single person households,the fact that the property is equippedwith internet accessis a major differentiating factor.

Free Internet" is also a major search criteria on real estate portal sites, increasing the likelihood of appearing at the top of searches. This will increase exposure of the property and lead to an increase in inquiries from prospective tenants.

Improved occupancy and occupancy rates

Properties withbulk Internettend to have higher occupancy rates than properties with similar conditions. Having an Internet environment in place has the effect of encouraging prospective tenants to make a decision. In addition, improved tenant satisfaction leads to long-term occupancy, which contributes to shorter vacancy periods and lower move-out rates.

Impact on Rent Setting

The added value of free Internet may enable slightly higher rents compared to the surrounding market. For tenants, the total cost is lower than individual contracts, so adding a portion of the cost to the rent is appealing enough.

Contribution to long-term profitability

Although initial investment is required, in the long run, stable profitability can be expected by strengthening the competitiveness of the property and improving the occupancy rate. Especially for older properties, it is an effective means of increasing property value at a lower cost than large-scale renovations.

Introduction Cost and Payback Simulation

Item	Small-scale property (10 units)	Medium-scale property (30 units)	Large-scale property (100 units)
Initial Installation Cost	500,000 - 800,000 yen	1,000,000 to 1,500,000 yen	2 million yen to 3 million yen
Monthly operating cost	30,000 yen to 50,000 yen	80,000 yen to 120,000 yen	200,000 yen to 300,000 yen
Monthly cost per unit	3,000 yen to 5,000 yen	2,700 yen to 4,000 yen	2,000 - 3,000 yen
Possible amount of rent add-on (approximate)	2,000 yen to 3,000 yen	2,000 - 3,000 yen	2,000 yen to 3,000 yen
Investment payback period	Approx. 2 to 3 years	Approx. 1.5 to 2 years	Approx. 1 to 1.5 years

The above is a general guideline and will vary greatly depending on the structure of the building and the condition of existing facilities.

Advantages for Residents

Bulk Internet in condominiumshas many advantages for tenants. In addition to the economic benefits, the increased convenience is also a major attraction.

Reduction in monthly communication costs

When contracting for individual Internet access, the monthly fee for an optical fiber connection generally costs 4,000 yen to 6,000 yen. With bulk Internet, on the other hand, this cost is included in the management fee and common service fee, so the actual burden is greatly reduced. In many cases, even taking into account the amount added to the management fee, the monthly fee saves about 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen more than usual.

Simplified move-in procedures

With individual contracts, you need to go through the contracting process with the provider and schedule the installation work when you move in.With whole-house Internet, these procedures are completely unnecessary, and you can start using the Internet on the day you move in. This is a big advantage in the complicated procedures involved in moving into a new house, as it eliminates this hassle.

Convenience of same-day use

By being able to use the Internet immediately after moving in, you can start your life at your new location immediately. This immediacy is especially important for those who use the Internet for work or for those who use video streaming services on a daily basis.

No need for cancellation procedures when moving

Since there is no need to cancel the Internet service when moving out, the burden of moving is reduced. There is also no risk of double payment due to forgotten cancellation.

Comparison of Monthly Cost between Individual and Bulk Contracts

Cost Items	Individual Contracts	In case of lump-sum contract
Internet Monthly Fee	4,000 yen to 6,000 yen	0 yen (included in the management fee)
Management and common service fees added on top of the management fee	0 yen	1,000 yen to 2,000 yen
Initial cost (administrative fee, etc.)	3,000 yen to 10,000 yen	0 yen
Installation fee	0 yen to 15,000 yen	0 yen
Risk of cancellation fee	Yes	No
Actual monthly cost (total)	4,000 yen to 6,000 yen	1,000 yen to 2,000 yen
Annual savings	-24,000 yen to 48,000 yen	24,000 yen to 48,000 yen

Why Bulk Internet Often Gets Called "Slow": Speed Comes Down to the Wiring

The single biggest complaint about bulk internet is speed. But a building isn't slow because it's "bulk" — what actually determines speed in a multi-unit building is what physical medium connects the building's entry point to each individual unit.

NTT West, one of Japan's two former state telecom monopolies for fiber service, publishes the following speeds by wiring type for its Flet's Hikari fiber service in multi-unit buildings:

Wiring type	Connection to each unit	Speed (rated maximum)
Fiber-to-the-unit ("hikari haisen")	Fiber optic cable runs all the way from the carrier's exchange to each individual unit	Standard plan: up to 100 Mbps. "Hayabusa" super high-speed plan: up to roughly 1 Gbps
VDSL	Fiber to the building, then the existing telephone wiring to each unit	Up to 100 Mbps
LAN wiring	Fiber to the building, then Ethernet/LAN cable to each unit	Up to 100 Mbps

Source: NTT West, "Flet's Hikari Next — Family/Apartment/Business plans"

Here is the single most useful fact in this entire article: the "Hayabusa" super high-speed and high-speed gigabit plans are only available over fiber-to-the-unit wiring — they are not offered over VDSL or LAN wiring. In practice, that means as long as a building's internal wiring is still telephone cable or Ethernet cable, no carrier's bulk service — however it's marketed — can deliver a genuine 1 Gbps plan. Much of the "we went bulk and it's slow" complaint is a building-wiring problem, not a carrier problem.

The published numbers also need a caveat. NTT West states explicitly that its speed figures are "rated maximums based on technical specifications, not actual measured throughput" — in other words, "best effort," with no guarantee of the speed a tenant will actually see. On top of that, because bulk service shares one connection into the building across every unit, per-unit throughput drops further during peak hours when many tenants are online at once. A listing's "up to 1 Gbps" is typically the rated speed of the shared connection into the building, not what any single unit will see.

For owners, the practical step is to check your building's wiring type before taking a proposal seriously. Older buildings are more likely to still run VDSL over repurposed telephone wiring, and layering a bulk service on top of that wiring will not resolve tenant complaints. Whether a quote includes rewiring the building to fiber-to-the-unit, or simply layers a service on top of the existing wiring, changes both the cost and the outcome substantially. The comparison that matters isn't the monthly fee — it's the wiring behind it.

This "last hundred feet" bottleneck is a familiar problem outside Japan too: U.S. renters who have lived in a building where the ISP's fiber stops at the basement and the final run to each unit is old copper or coax will recognize the same pattern — the advertised headline speed and the speed that actually reaches a given unit are two different numbers, and the gap is set by whatever cabling was installed when the building went up, not by which carrier is billing you.

Disadvantages of Bulk Internet Installation

While there are many advantages tobulk Internet for condominiums, there are also disadvantages that should be considered from the standpoint of both property owners and tenants. These disadvantages should also be fully understood when considering the introduction of this system.

Demerits on the real estate owner's side

Burden of initial investment

Introducing bulk Internet requires an initial investment in wiring and equipment installation for the entire building. Depending on the size of the property, even a small condominium may cost more than ¥500,000, and a large condominium may cost several million yen. It takes a certain period of time to recover this initial investment.

Binding by long-term contract

Mostwhole-house Internetservices are based on long-term contracts of three to five years. During this period, it is difficult to change or cancel the contract, and penalties may be incurred. In the rapidly changing Internet environment, being tied to the same service for a long period of time can be a risk.

Operation and maintenance

Even after installation, there is a certain amount of operation and maintenance work required, such as responding to inquiries from tenants and coordinating with contractors in case of problems. In particular, complaints from tenants may be directed to the management company or owner in the event of line trouble.

Disadvantages for tenants

Limitations on line speed and quality

Bulk Internet, because the line is shared within the building, may experience slowdowns during times of high user traffic. This can be particularly frustrating for tenants who engage in large volume data transmission, such as watching videos or playing online games.

No choice of providers or lines.

Unlike individual contracts, you are not free to choose the type of provider or line. This can be a constraint for those who are particular about a particular service or need a specific line environment for work-related reasons.

Actual cost burden

Even if "free internet" is claimed, in many cases it is actually added to the management fee or rent. For tenants who rarely use the Internet, they are bearing unnecessary costs.

Disadvantages and Countermeasures

Disadvantages	Countermeasures
Burden of initial investment	Get quotes from multiple vendors and compare Consider using subsidies and grants
Binding due to long-term contracts	Confirm contract details in detail and clarify mid-term cancellation conditions. Include renewal clauses that can accommodate technological innovations.
Operation and maintenance	Select a vendor with a strong support system. Clarify the division of roles with the management company.
Limit line speed	Ensure sufficient bandwidth for the number of residents Regularly measure speed and increase as needed
Limit choice	Select lines that are compatible with major services Establish a system that allows individual contracts as an option
Substantial cost	Clearly explain the amount added to administrative costs Provide comparative data with actual market prices

How a Cable TV Company's Bulk Contract Differs from a Fiber Carrier's

Bulk contracts for multi-unit buildings in Japan come from two different kinds of providers: fiber-optic carriers, and cable television (CATV) operators. Building owners evaluating a proposal often get pitches from both, so it is worth laying out the difference.

According to Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ("Current State of Cable Television"), as of the end of fiscal 2023 (March 2024), 295 cable TV operators offered broadband service, with 10.84 million subscriptions combined. Of those, 286 operators offering "ultra-high-speed" broadband of 30 Mbps download or faster accounted for 10.17 million subscriptions. Cable TV operators in Japan are broadcasters, but collectively they are also a communications carrier of meaningful scale — a dual role that will feel familiar to anyone who has dealt with a U.S. cable provider offering both television and internet over the same coaxial line.

On physical infrastructure, of the wired telecommunications drop lines used for registered self-originated broadcasting, 65.0% used FTTH (fiber to the home, including mixed use with other methods), 34.8% used HFC (hybrid fiber-coax, including mixed use with coaxial cable), and only 0.2% used coaxial cable alone, as of the end of fiscal 2023. The same source defines FTTH as running fiber optic cable to each home, and HFC as running fiber from the cable operator's head-end and then coaxial cable for the final run into each home — the same HFC architecture used by most legacy cable providers in the U.S. and Europe.

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "Current State of Cable Television" (December 2024 edition)

Comparison	Cable TV operator bulk contract	Fiber carrier bulk contract
Physical medium	A mix of FTTH and HFC (fiber plus coax); the speed ceiling depends on the specific infrastructure	Fiber optic throughout
Bundling with TV	Terrestrial digital retransmission and multichannel TV can be bundled with internet under one operator	TV service is typically a separate contract
Shared antenna systems	The building's shared antenna upgrade and the internet rollout can sometimes be handled in a single project	Shared antenna equipment is handled separately
Market structure	Operators are regional	Mostly nationwide carriers

The advantage of a cable-company bulk contract is bundling TV and internet into one contract and one round of construction. 328 operators (72.1%) offer terrestrial-only retransmission service, so for a building where television reception already runs through cable infrastructure, routing internet through the same system usually means one point of contact and one construction project rather than two. This matters especially for buildings where the shared antenna equipment is already due for replacement.

The item that still needs checking, though, is the physical medium. Two buildings can both have a "cable TV bulk contract" and still have very different speed ceilings, depending on whether the run is FTTH or HFC. A proposal advertising "up to X Gbps" will not by itself tell you which one applies to a particular building. This is the same issue raised in the previous section about fiber-carrier wiring — compare the wiring into and inside the building, not the monthly fee and the channel count.

Bulk Internet Installation Process

When considering the introduction ofbulkInternet incondominiums, it is important to proceed systematically. Below is an explanation of the implementation flow and points to consider at each stage.

Considerations before Installation

When considering the introduction of Internet, first check the following points:

1.The size and structure of the property (number of units, number of floors, building structure)

2.Status of existing wiring facilities (telephone lines, TV co-viewing facilities, etc.)

3.Needs of the resident population (age range, Internet usage trends, etc.)

4.Available investment budget and payback plan

5.Facilities in the surrounding area (differentiation from competing properties)

Organizing this information will help you make a decision on the best service type and vendor selection.

Key points for vendor selection

The following are points to consider when selecting a vendorfor whole-houseInternet

1.Service area and track record - Does the company have a strong track record of installation in the target property area?

2.Line quality and speed - Effective speed and stability of the line provided.

3.Support system - Is the service available 24 hours a day?

4.Contract terms and conditions - contract term, cancellation terms, and transparency of the fee structure.

5.Future scalability - ability to respond to technological innovations, upgrade conditions

It is important to obtain quotes from multiple vendors and compare the above points comprehensively, not just price.

Installation Flow and Timeframe

The general flow of installation work is as follows:

1.On-site survey - Confirmation of building structure and existing facilities

2.Design and plan finalization - Determination of wiring route and equipment installation location

Notification to tenants - informing them of construction schedule and temporary restrictions on use

4.MDF room construction - Installation of lines into the building and installation of the main equipment

5.Common area wiring work - laying wiring to each floor

6.In-unit construction - installation of information outlets in each room

7.Operation check and adjustment - Connection test and speed confirmation in all houses

8.Briefing for residents - Explanation of usage and precautions

How to guide residents

After the introduction of the system, it is important to clearly provide the following information to residents

1.Service start date and scope of availability

2.Connection method and initial setup procedure

3.Where to inquire in case of trouble

4.Precautions for use (prohibited items, etc.)

FAQs

Especially for properties with existing tenants, careful explanation is necessary to minimize confusion caused by the service switchover.

Steps to introduction and approximate timeframe

Steps	Contents	Estimated Timeframe
Information gathering and review	Comparative study of each company's services	1 to 2 months
Vendor selection	Obtain quotes, compare and consider, and decide on a vendor	2 weeks to 1 month
Contract signing	Confirmation of contract details, conclusion of contract	1 to 2 weeks
Site survey	Building survey, design plan preparation	2 weeks to 1 month
Tenant notification	Notification of construction schedule, briefing session	2 weeks to 1 month prior to construction
Installation work	MDF room construction, common area construction, individual unit construction	1 week to 1 month
Operation check and adjustment	Connection test, speed check	1 to 2 weeks
Start of service	Briefing for residents, start of service	-1 to 2 weeks

*Duration varies greatly depending on the size of the property and existing facilities.

When the Owner Becomes the Service Provider, a Telecommunications Business Filing Is Required

There are broadly two ways to structure a bulk internet arrangement. In one, a carrier provides the service directly to tenants and the owner is simply the party who signed the building up for a connection. In the other, the owner or management company sets its own price and becomes the service provider itself. Japan's Telecommunications Business Act treats these two structures differently.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Guide to Entering the Telecommunications Business" (supplementary edition) addresses this scenario directly. It states that where an office or apartment management company or lessor sets its own charges and otherwise acts as the provider of internet service to its tenants in its own right, that activity is treated as an independent business of supplying telecommunications services — and therefore falls under the registration or notification requirements for a telecommunications business.

By contrast, where a residents' association or management association made up of the tenants themselves provides an internet service used only by its own members, that is treated as meeting the association's own needs rather than supplying services to third parties, and falls outside the Telecommunications Business Act.

Whether registration or notification applies turns on whether telecommunications line facilities are installed, and their scale. One threshold is whether the area covered by the terminal transmission line facilities extends beyond a single municipality; a system confined to one building falls under that threshold, so even where the Act does apply, it is a notification rather than the heavier registration.

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "Guide to Entering the Telecommunications Business [Supplementary Edition]" (revised January 30, 2023)

In practice, the dividing line comes down to who decides how much tenants pay for the connection. In the ordinary building-wide bulk setup — where the cost is folded into rent and common-area fees with no separate line item — the carrier remains the provider, and the owner is simply a subscriber to the building's connection. If tenants are instead billed a standalone "internet usage fee," the owner's position can shift.

So when evaluating a proposal, two things are worth confirming up front: who the contract names as the service provider to tenants, and whether the internet charge will be folded into rent and common-area fees or billed as a separate line item. Structuring a separate fee to recover the actual cost from tenants can unintentionally put the owner on the provider side of this line. When in doubt, the regional Telecommunications Bureau accepts advance consultations on exactly this question.

Summary

Bulk Internet for condominiumsis a capital investment that benefits both property owners and tenants. The following is a summary of the main points explained in this article.

Main benefits for property owners

1.Differentiation of the property and enhancement of competitiveness - As the property is differentiated as a property with free Internet access, inquiries from prospective tenants can be expected to increase.

2.Improved occupancy and occupancy rates - The facility will be more attractive to tenants, leading to lower vacancy rates and longer tenancy.

3.Flexibility in rent setting - Rent can be set according to the added value, which is expected to increase profitability.

4.Prospects for investment payback - Although initial investment is required, in many cases it can be recovered in 1 to 3 years, contributing to long-term profitability.

Main benefits for tenants

1.Reduction of communication costs - Compared to individual contracts, annual savings of 20,000 to 50,000 yen can be expected.

2.Simplified procedures - No need to sign a contract when moving in or cancel when moving out.

3.Convenience of same-day use - Internet access is available on the same day you move in, making it easy to start up your life.

Points to keep in mind when introducing the service

1.Importance of vendor selection - It is necessary to make a comprehensive comparison, not only on price, but also on line quality and support system.

2.Confirmation of contract terms - Since long-term contracts are the basic policy, it is important to confirm contract terms and cancellation conditions in detail.

3.Explanation to tenants - Careful explanation of usage and restrictions at the time of installation and upon moving in can prevent problems.

Next Steps.

For property owners who are considering installingbulkInternet inall units, it is recommended that they first obtain quotes from multiple vendors and compare them. For properties with existing tenants, it is also effective to understand their needs through preliminary questionnaires.

Tenants should check the details of "free internet" when selecting a property. It is important to determine if the type of line, speed, and whether there are any restrictions on use, etc., are suitable for your lifestyle.

INA&Associates Inc.also provides consulting services forreal estate ownersto installbulkInternet incondominiums. Please feel free to contact us for the best plan to suit your property's characteristics and tenant demographics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1:How long is the contract period for bulk Internet?

A:Thetypical contract term is 3 to 5 years. It varies from vendor to vendor, but long-term contracts are the standard. When renewing a contract, we recommend that you check the latest technological trends and fee plans, and review them as necessary. It is important to check the contract cancellation terms in detail before signing, as there are often penalties for mid-contract cancellations.

Q2: Is it possible to retrofit the system to an existing property?

A: Yes, itis possible. Although the difficulty and cost of installation will vary depending on the existing building structure and wiring facilities, in most cases, retrofitting is possible. In particular, if the existing TV co-viewing equipment and telephone line equipment can be used, the installation can be done relatively smoothly. However, in older buildings, securing wiring space in the building may be an issue.

Q3: Is there any way to deal with slow connection speeds?

A:The following measures can be taken to deal with line speed problems:

1.Increase bandwidth - increase the bandwidth of the line you are subscribed to (additional costs may apply).

2.Upgrade equipment - update old equipment and wiring to the latest version.

3.Set usage rules - set restrictions on certain times of the day or certain usage methods.

4.Provide individual line options - offer residents who need high-speed communication the option of individual lines for an additional fee.

If speed problems are chronic, it is important to consult with the vendor and take appropriate measures.

A:Basically, it is possible. Even if bulk Internet is installed, there are no restrictions on tenants individually subscribing to different lines. However, depending on the building structure and management regulations, there may be restrictions on the construction of a new line opening. Also, it should be noted that the economic benefit to the resident is diminished because of the double cost.

Q5: What is the market price for installation costs?

A:Installation costs vary greatly depending on the size and structure of the property and the service selected:

-Small-scale properties (about 10 units): about 500,000 to 800,000 yen

Medium-scale property (approx. 30 units): 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 yen

Large-scale properties (100 units or more): 2 million yen to 3 million yen or more

In addition to this, there is a monthly operating cost. The more units there are, the lower the cost per unit tends to be. Costs also vary depending on the degree of utilization of existing facilities and the difficulty of construction. We recommend that you obtain quotes from multiple vendors and compare them.