When should a condo replace its intercom? When repairs become frequent, spare parts are hard to find, and residents complain that visitors cannot reach them. Many Singapore condos built in the 1990s and 2000s still run analogue or early digital intercoms wired to every unit. Replacement options today range from IP video intercoms with indoor monitors to app-based systems where a visitor’s call rings the resident’s phone, wherever they are.
This guide compares the main options, explains a typical project timeline, and lists the questions MCST councils should ask before approving a replacement.
Signs your intercom is due for replacement
- Several units report no audio, no video or one-way audio at the same time.
- The maintenance contractor says parts are discontinued or must be salvaged from other units.
- Guards spend time relaying visitor calls because residents cannot answer through the intercom.
- Residents increasingly ask visitors to phone them directly, bypassing security.
- The system cannot integrate with the visitor management or access control system.
Replacement options compared
Condo intercom replacement options
| Option |
How it works |
Strengths |
Considerations |
| Like-for-like analogue |
Replace with a newer wired system of the same type |
Familiar to residents |
Limited features; same obsolescence risk later |
| IP video intercom with indoor monitors |
Door stations and in-unit screens on a network |
Video, door release, integrates with access control |
May need new cabling or network in risers; work inside units |
| App-based (cloud) intercom |
Door station calls resident’s phone through an app |
Answer from anywhere; little or no work inside units |
Depends on internet; residents without smartphones need an alternative |
| Hybrid |
IP door stations, app for most residents, indoor monitors for those who want them |
Flexible and inclusive |
More planning; mixed device support |
For most estates, the hybrid approach balances convenience and inclusiveness. Residents who prefer an indoor screen keep one, while others answer on their phone.
What a modern door station looks like
A door station at the main gate or block lobby does more than call units. Devices such as the Akuvox X915S combine an intercom with access control:
- 8-inch 1280×800 touchscreen with a resident directory
- 5MP starlight camera for clear video at night, plus a 2MP anti-spoofing camera
- Entry by face, QR code, PIN, Bluetooth or RFID card
- Up to 20,000 faces, 20,000 PINs and 100,000 cards
- IP66 weather resistance and IK10 vandal resistance
- Works with the Akuvox SmartPlus app for calls on residents’ phones
Combining intercom and access in one device reduces the number of boxes on the wall and gives guards and residents one consistent experience.
Typical project timeline
Every estate is different, so treat this as a guide. A site survey gives the real timeline.
Intercom replacement project stages
| Stage |
What happens |
Who is involved |
| 1. Survey |
Check existing wiring, risers, network, door stations and unit count |
Integrator, managing agent |
| 2. Proposal |
Options, hardware list, phasing plan |
Integrator, council |
| 3. Approval |
Council review, tender if required, general meeting resolution if needed |
Council, subsidiary proprietors |
| 4. Communication |
Circulars, app sign-up, appointment booking for in-unit work |
Managing agent |
| 5. Installation |
Block by block, keeping the old system running until each block switches over |
Integrator |
| 6. Training and go-live |
Guard training, resident help desk, testing every unit |
Integrator, guards, residents |
| 7. Handover |
As-built drawings, warranties, support contacts |
Integrator, managing agent |
Questions councils should ask
- Can we reuse existing cabling, or do we need new cables in the risers?
- How much work happens inside units, and how will appointments be managed?
- How do residents without smartphones receive calls?
- What happens to calls and door release if the internet fails?
- Does the intercom integrate with our visitor management system, access control and CCTV?
- Where is resident and call data stored, and how is it protected under the PDPA?
- What warranty and after-sales support are included, and what are response times for faults?
- How long will spare parts and software updates be available?
- How will the old and new systems run side by side during the changeover?
- Who trains guards and helps residents set up the app?
Linking the intercom to visitor management
The intercom is often the first point of contact for unregistered visitors. When it is linked to the visitor management system:
- A walk-in visitor calls the unit from the door station; the resident sees video on their phone and taps to approve.
- The approval creates a visitor record automatically, with time and door location.
- Pre-registered visitors skip the call by scanning their QR pass.
- Guards see all of this on the guard console, without relaying calls.
This removes a large share of guardhouse phone calls and gives the estate a complete visitor record.
Keeping residents on board
- Explain why the change is happening, with real numbers on faults and repair delays.
- Offer app help sessions at the clubhouse for residents who want assistance.
- Give elderly residents and those without smartphones a clear alternative, such as an indoor monitor or a landline forwarding option where supported.
- Publish the switchover schedule block by block so nobody is surprised.
How myCondo helps
myCondo surveys existing intercom systems and proposes replacement options that fit the estate’s wiring, budget and residents. We install IP door stations from Akuvox, integrate them with the myCondo mobile and web app for visitor management, connect to CCTV from Hikvision, Dahua Technology and Milestone, and provide after-sales support from our Singapore team.
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to rewire the whole building?
Not always. Some IP systems can run over existing cabling with converters, and app-based systems may need little in-unit work. A survey confirms what is possible.
Can residents answer the intercom when they are overseas?
With app-based calling, yes, as long as their phone has an internet connection.
What if a resident does not want the app?
Offer an indoor monitor or another alternative. A hybrid design keeps everyone included.
Will the intercom stop working during installation?
A well-planned project switches over block by block and keeps the old system running until each block is ready.
Does the new intercom store visitor video?
It can store call snapshots or video depending on settings. The estate should set a retention period and explain it in its PDPA notice.
Related reading
Talk to myCondo
Is your intercom failing more often than it works? We can survey your estate and outline replacement options.
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