Last modified: Jun 01, 2023
Viasat, HughesNet, and Starlink are the best satellite internet providers. Viasat is best for fast speeds, and HughesNet has the best prices. The best rural satellite internet providers fully available in the US right now are Viasat (formerly Exede) and HughesNet, What is the best satellite internet? Viasat and HughesNet currently offer speeds up to 100 Mbps and 25 Mbps respectively, and are the most popular satellite.
Viasat, HughesNet, and Starlink are the best satellite internet providers in the US. If you live in a rural or remote area where cable, fiber, and DSL internet aren't available, satellite internet is a good option for you. Connectivity challenges are a common issue in remote areas, but a good satellite provider can bridge that gap by providing internet access anywhere. Satellite internet service can also give you good download speeds. And the best satellite internet plans can even give you unlimited data. Satellite internet is more expensive and comes with less data than a cable or fiber internet service provider you'll find in the city. But it provides nationwide internet access, which is the best thing about satellite providers. Overall, satellite internet is a steady internet option to get online in even the most remote areas. As long as you have a clear view of the Southern sky, you have satellite internet access.It's not breaking news that many in rural America lack adequate internet access. There's some disagreement on the exact numbers, but a growing chorus of voices agree the US has work to do to increase and expand its internet infrastructure. The good news? President J
HughesNet scores strong points for its consistency of internet service regarding download speed. Whereas other satellite internet providers' speeds might vary from location to location, HughesNet's max download speed -- though not as fast on the top end as others -- are available to all customers in all remote areas. What's more, in 2018, a Federal Communications Commission report on broadband noted that HughesNet fared best among all participating providers for delivering actual median download speed at 150% or higher of the advertised speed. Things to consider? While HughesNet has no hard data limits, you'll find its speeds reduced to 1 to 3 megabits per second once you hit your monthly data allowance. HughesNet also came up short in J.D. Power's 2021 US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study, landing dead last in the South region for overall customer satisfaction. Read our HughesNet review. Viasat satellite internet lets you choose an internet plan that best fits your needs. Those internet service plans include some slower than what you'll find with HughesNet and several faster. Packages also come with more data -- up to 150GB -- though, similar to HughesNet
Choosing the best satellite internet provider for you comes down to what you value most in a satellite internet plan and how much you're willing to pay for internet access each month.
With a download speed up to 100 Mbps, Viasat is the best satellite internet provider for the fastest speeds and higher data caps—but it'll come at a price. Viasat's satellite internet plans are the most expensive and prices go up significantly after the three-month promotional period. With both Viasat and HughesNet, you have to sign a 2-year contract, so it's costly to jump ship if you don't want to pay the higher prices that kick in for the majority of your contract.
HughesNet, on the other hand, tops out at 25 Mbps download speeds but its prices stay the same throughout your entire 2-year contract. HughesNet offers smaller max monthly data caps. But HughesNet makes up for it with the Bonus Zone, which allows you to use data during off-peak hours with no limits. That said, 25 Mbps is really not that fast for an internet service provider, especially when you consider that's the max speed you'll get with HughesNet.
Starlink seems like the satellite internet provider solution we've all been waiting for, but we'll see if its performance can live up to its promises as the network continues to launch. Most Starlink users experience 100–200 Mbps speeds, which makes Starlink the fastest residential satellite provider available. Starlink also recently launched a Starlink Premium plan, which offers internet speeds up to 500 Mbps with an installation fee of $2,500. Wowza!
Unlike the geostationary satellite network employed by Viasat and HughesNet, Starlink employs low Earth orbit satellites, which are closer to the Earth and allow for lower latency (as low as 20 ms) and faster speeds. The fact that Starlink Premium boasts satellite internet speeds up to 500 Mbps is truly astounding and a testament to the capabilities of low Earth orbit satellites. However, Starlink availability is still highly limited, internet access and speeds are spotty, and the hefty installation fees makes its lower monthly price point less enticing.
4 satellite internet providers As of 2020, there are 4 satellite internet providers with coverage in the US. Most of these are available nationwide, with HughesNet and Viasat (formerly Exede) being the main options for consumer internet.
Company | Revenue (USD millions) | Country |
---|---|---|
Singtel Satellite | 12,041 | Singapore |
SES | 2,328 | Luxembourg |
Intelsat | 2,061 | Luxembourg |
Eutelsat | 1,499 | France |
There are only two satellite internet providers: Viasat (formerly Exede internet) and HughesNet. In our comparison, we talked about why we think Viasat is the best satellite internet provider for most people. To sum it up: you'll get faster speeds, more data, and a better price in most cases.
Starlink's median upload was far faster at 13.89 and compares to fixed broadband of 17.18 Mbps. Ookla pointed to Starlink's use of LEO satellites as boosting latency figures, given the lower altitude means less round trip time than from geosynchronous orbit satellites used by Viasat and HughesNet.
Starlink internet is unlimited and has no data caps. Company Revenue (USD millions) Country Singtel Satellite 12,041 Singapore SES 2,328 Luxembourg Intelsat 2,061 Luxembourg Eutelsat 1,499 France Arqiva 1,290 UK Telesat 684 Canada Hispasat* 239 Spain Globecast 188 France Thaicom 150 Thailand EchoStar Satellite Services 1.886 USA
Of the 3,372 active artificial satellites orbiting the Earth as of January 1, 2021, 1,897 belong to the United States. This is by far the largest number of any single country, with their nearest competitor, China, accounting for only 412. Artificial satellites are human-made objects deliberately placed in orbit.
There are three main ways for traveling RVers to get internet access: Using surrounding Wi-Fi connections. Investing in a cellular data plan. Putting together a satellite setup.
AT&T's new satellite service is available to customers in rural and remote locations in the carrier's 13-state local calling area. It is part of AT&T's plan to offer broadband services to 100% of its customer base. AT&T says it is the largest DSL provider with 7.4 million DSL lines in service.
HughesNet internet costs $64.99 per month for the cheapest plan and goes up to $159.99 per month for the best plan. The HughesNet monthly lease fee will cost you $14.99 per month. Unlike Viasat, HughesNet has no price hikes, so your monthly bill will stay the same throughout your 2-year contract.
Get it sent to your inbox. Amazon is getting ready to go to space. The first two prototype satellites from Project Kuiper, the internet-from-space venture from the e-commerce giant, are scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2022, Amazon announced on Monday.
The average speed for satellite internet is 25 Mbps, but there are plans offering up to 100 Mbps.
Viasat, HughesNet, Big Bend Telephone Company and X2nSat offer satellite internet.
Satellite internet is an option for those without access to wired internet options or that live in remote locations.
Viasat and Big Bend Telephone Company offer plans that have unlimited data.
Viasat and HughesNet currently offer speeds up to 100 Mbps and 25 Mbps respectively, and are the most popular satellite providers.
Customers will need to rent or purchase an antenna or dish from their provider, Viasat, HughesNet, Big Bend Telephone Company and X2nSat are the main satellite internet providers in the US, OneWeb, Boeing and SpaceX see potential in low Earth orbiting satellite arrays and have plans to launch satellites in the next couple of years.