Also: The best hotspots However, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best fit for your needs. In the US, there are three primary providers of satellite broadband: HughesNet, Starlink, and Viasat. Each company and service has its own pros and cons. So, how do they compare to one another? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
HughesNet offers no hard data limits, reducing speed to 1-3 Mbps insteadCustomers can access the Bonus Zone, receiving an additional 50GB of data from 2 a.m. to 8 a.mThe Video Data Saver feature compresses streamed video to save bandwidthHughesNet provides built-in Wi-Fi for easy connectivityEquipment can be leased for $14.99 per month or purchased outright for $349.98HughesNet requires a 24-month contract for internet services
HughesNet is an established name in the satellite internet service space, and it offers a broad range of plans to accommodate for light and moderate internet users. The company provides different data allowances, ranging from 15GB to100 GB, with corresponding monthly rates of $65, $75, $100, and $175. HughesNet has the added advantage of offering customers an extra 50GB per month for off-peak use. It does not impose hard data limits, which means you can still access the internet even if you’ve reached your data allowance. However, the company may reduce the internet speed to 1-3 Mbps, which can affect the user experience. Lastly, HughesNet is available in the contiguous US, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and wherever there is a “clear view of the Southern Sky.” The company requires customers to sign a 24-month contract.
Starlink requires a one-time equipment fee of $599 for the standard service and $2,500 for the Premium serviceProvides two simple plans to choose from, starting at $110 per month.Users who exceed the Priority Access data usage limit of 1TB will be switched to Basic AccessDoes not require you to sign a contract, allowing them to cancel their service at any time without incurring additional charges
A new name – but a big name. Elon Musk’s Starlink cuts through the confusing raft of options offered by other companies and has just two plans: Starlink 1TB and Starlink Premium 1TB, priced at $110 per month and $135 per month, respectively. Customers who exceed the Priority Access data usage limit of 1TB will then be switched to Basic Access. For heavy users, Starlink is a no-brainer option. However, customers should note that they have to pay for the hardware upfront, unlike other providers that offer free equipment. There is a one-time equipment fee of $599 for Starlink and $2,500 for Starlink Premium. There is no contract, though. Customers can cancel their service at any time without incurring additional charges. So, despite the upfront costs, Starlink is still an attractive option for many. It’s available in select regions in the US, Canada, and abroad, and the company has nearly half a million customers and is active on all continents.
Viasat offers an introductory discount of $20-$50 for three months.Faster download speeds and higher data optionsEligible for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity ProgramData Extender automatically streams video at DVD quality when enabledEquipment lease of $12.99/month, with an option to purchase equipment for $300Requires a 24-month contract
Viasat offers a broad range of plans at decent prices to suit all but the heaviest of users. The plans start at $50 per month for 40GB and go up to $200 per month for 300GB. (All plans offer unlimited lower-speed “standard data” after high-speed data is exhausted.) The company is eligible for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, too, further increasing its appeal. The downside of Viasat is that things do start to get pricey for heavier users, and the 24-month contract means users will be penalized if they want to switch providers. Additional features include a $20-$50 introductory discount for three months, a Data Extender that automatically streams video at DVD quality (when enabled), and an equipment lease of $12.99 per month. You can also purchase equipment for $300. Viasat is accessible in almost all areas of the US, including some international regions and Puerto Rico. What I’ve done here is break down the offerings available and examine the pros and cons for each. I also examined customer reviews to ensure that the quality of both the satellite internet service and customer service is acceptable. My goal was to present a comprehensive overview of each provider’s strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision It’s important to note that internet speeds – especially satellite internet speeds – are dependent on many factors, from the load on the infrastructure to the weather, and these can reduce the maximum rated speeds advertised. There are also a number of misconceptions related to download speeds. A higher download speed doesn’t mean a better, more reliable connection, and it doesn’t mean that you get a more reliable connection. *Activity estimates assume 4-8 connected devices Satellite internet plans are similar to cellphone plans, but with one big difference. If you go over your satellite data limit, you will not be completely cut off from the internet. Instead, you will be restricted to slower speeds (typically around 1-3 Mbps) until your next billing cycle. This restricted service will allow for web browsing, but activities such as video streaming or file downloading will be affected. To give you some perspective, here’s what 1 GB of data translates to :
About an hour of Netflix at standard definitionAbout 30 minutes of YouTube at 1080pAbout 12 hours of scrolling social mediaAbout 6 hours of interacting on social media (uploading photos and video)16 hours of web browsingAbout 5.5 hours of FaceTime/Skype
All three satellite providers offer customers a way to keep an eye on data usage within a given month, so you can be mindful of how much data you are using and whether you’re close to being dropped onto the lower-speed data plans. All of these factors contribute to the overall cost of satellite internet. While Starlink has certainly shaken up the market by offering higher speeds and more data bandwidth for your money, I would still consider satellite internet as a last-ditch alternative where decent broadband or cellular service is not available. The higher equipment costs, along with the bigger monthly costs, make it a pricier choice. On top of that, latency (the time it takes your data to go from you to the destination, or vice versa) is always going to be a concern with satellite internet because every packet of data has to be beamed up to and down from satellites orbiting 22,000 miles above the Earth. More details can be found on the FCC website.
