Article Summary
Satellite internet is "internet beamed from the sky." Because signals travel over huge distances, satellite internet is both slower and more susceptible to weather interruptions than wired connections. However, satellite offers internet access from just about anywhere, making it an ideal solution for customers living in rural areas. The predominant satellite providers in the U.S. are Viasat and Hughesnet, though newcomer Starlink is poised to offer groundbreaking satellite internet that rivals the speeds and reliability of the best wired internet services on the market.
Satellite internet offers access to high-speed internet from anywhere you are. It's one of the four broadband internet types—and though it usually has a less-than-stellar reputation, recent newcomers to the satellite market may be about to change that perception for good.
This guide provides an overview of satellite internet—what it is, what speed it offers, how it's installed, and plans and providers—to help you decide if it's right for you.
Satellite Internet at a Glance
| Average Speeds | 50-200Mbps |
|---|---|
| Average Price | $60-120/mo |
| Data cap? | Usually |
| Availability | Widely available, even in rural and remote areas |
| Reliability | Spotty reliability due to obstructions, weak signal strength, weather, etc. |
| Best for | Those without access to wired internet options |
What Is Satellite Internet?
Satellite internet is one of the four main types of broadband internet connections (the others being DSL, fiber, and cable internet). Satellites allows you to connect to the internet without cables or wires—just a satellite dish. An internet signal is beamed from an orbiting satellite in the sky to your terrestrial satellite dish, giving you internet access from pretty much anywhere you are.
Satellite signals travel great distances, so download and upload speeds are typically slower than you'd find with wired (cable, fiber, DSL) internet connection types. Still, satellite carriers have managed to improve connection speeds in recent years, and may be about to transform satellite service completely, as we soon shall see.
The biggest upside of satellite internet is versatility. Since the broadband signal is beamed from the sky, it can be accessed almost anywhere; you'd be hard pressed to find a spot in the United States that can't access the internet via satellite. This helps folks living in rural areas not served by wired DSL, cable or fiber internet networks.
One major downside to satellite internet service: its cost. Launching and maintaining satellites is expensive, which is why you typically see high prices for satellite internet plans that offer comparatively low speeds when measured against, say, cable internet plans
How Fast Is Satellite Internet?
Satellite internet is much slower than cable and fiber connections. When it comes to internet speed, wired connections tend to wield the fastest upload/download speeds. That's because signals travel from source to destination more or less unimpeded.
Satellite internet, by contrast, has to travel much further—sky to dish—than wired internet connections do. That translates to lower speeds compared to wired broadband types. For example, Viasat's plans top out at 150Mbps speeds and Starlink consistently reaches 400Mbps for some customers. On the other hand, customers with fiber service can easily get speeds of 1Gbps or more.
As a point of comparison, here are the speeds offered by cable internet provider Xfinity:
|
#1
|
Xfinity
300 Mbps
$40/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#2
|
Xfinity
500 Mbps
$45/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#3
|
Xfinity
1 Gig
$50/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#4
|
Xfinity
300 Mbps + Unlimited
$80/mo
5 year price guarantee + FREE mobile line for 12 months
|
|
#5
|
Xfinity
500 Mbps + Unlimited
$85/mo
5 year price guarantee + FREE mobile line for 12 months
|
|
#6
|
Xfinity
1 Gig + Unlimited
$90/mo
5 year price guarantee + FREE mobile line for 12 months
|
|
#7
|
Xfinity
1.2 Gig
$100/mo
5 year price guarantee
|
|
#8
|
Xfinity
1.2 Gig + Unlimited
$140/mo
5 year price guarantee + FREE mobile line for 12 months
|
You can try to boost your satellite signal by making sure nothing is blocking your dish from receiving data and making sure your dish is positioned properly for optimal signal strength. In the United States, most satellite dishes are pointed toward the south, but even small tweaks can make a big difference. Contact your satellite internet provider to have someone come out and check your dish's setup.
Not only is satellite internet generally slower than other internet connection types, but it's also less reliable. Bad weather events can disrupt your signal, as can natural geographic barriers. You're also more likely to experience "lag" which can be the worst for online gamers.
However, this bad rap may be erased with the introduction of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet. Let's take a look at the current—and future—satellite internet providers.
Satellite Internet Providers and Plans
| Hughesnet | Viasat | Starlink | |
| Maximum Speeds | 25Mbps | 150Mbps | 1Gbps (projected) |
| Average Speeds | 14Mbps | 30-35Mbps | 50-400Mbps |
| Data cap | 150-250GB | 850GB | None |
| Price | $64-94/month | $99-119/month | $50/month (starting plan) |
Until recently, there were really only two satellite internet providers to choose from in the United States: Hughesnet and Viasat. However, SpaceX finally unveiled its growing satellite constellation and changed the game.
Here's how the soon-to-be three satellite internet providers stack up.
Hughesnet
HughestNet's satellite internet service is the more limited of the two providers currently up and running. Plans start at 50Mbps speeds, with varying high-speed data caps maxing out at 250GB; the more you pay, the bigger the high-speed data allowance. Once you've hit your monthly limit, your speeds will slow further for the remainder of your cycle.
Considering the limited speeds compared to Viasat and Starlink, Hughesnet is pretty pricey for what you're getting, with its cheapest plan running you $39.99/month. The internet provider also charges an initial set-up fee plus a monthly rental fee to lease their modem and satellite dish, or you can purchase them outright.
Viasat (Formerly Exede)
Viasat offers more than Hughesnet in both speed and data allowance. It offers just one plan for most customers: the Unleashed Plan. It offers speeds up to 150Mbps and an 850GB per month high-speed data cap. Pricing depends on where you live and stretches from $99.99/month to $119.99/month. It also has a variable installation fee that can reach $300.
|
Viasat
Viasat Essentials
$71.22/mo
for 12 months. Contract required.
|
|
Viasat
Viasat Unleashed
$101.22/mo
Available in select locations
|
Starlink Internet
Starlink seems poised to revolutionize satellite internet service. Instead of standard geostationary satellites that hover around 22,000 miles above the planet, Starlink's "constellation network" is set up in low-Earth orbit, located approximately 300 miles above the surface. Plus, Starlink's network will eventually consist of upwards of 30,000 satellites (a far cry from the 2,000-ish total that are currently in orbit).
What does this mean for satellite internet service? As-yet unseen speeds, service, and availability. Starlink is set to offer download speeds of up to 1Gbps, rivaling the best-in-class fiber internet for the speediest connection on Earth (or in space). And with so many satellites whizzing by, Starlink should be able to consistently reach even the 3% hardest-to-service areas with little signal dropout, solving the problem of universal internet access.
Starlink's residential internet plans start at $50/month. It is (barely) the most expensive satellite internet provider, but it does offer better speeds and latency than Viasat and Hughesnet.
|
Starlink
Residential 100 Mbps
$55/mo
Available in select locations
+ $369 Upfront
|
|
Starlink
ROAM 100GB
$55/mo
Available in select locations
+ $369 Upfront
|
|
Starlink
ROAM 300GB
$80/mo
Available in select locations
+ $369 Upfront
|
|
Starlink
Residential 200 Mbps
$85/mo
Available in select locations
+ $369 Upfront
|
|
Starlink
Residential MAX
$130/mo
Available in select locations
+ $369 Upfront
|
|
Starlink
ROAM Unlimited
$175/mo
Available in select locations
+ $369 Upfront
|
Satellite Internet Installation
Satellite internet installation works a bit differently than it does for wired connections. First of all, you're required to purchase or lease a satellite dish from your chosen provider. You'll also have to buy or rent a modem—that's right, just like for cable or fiber internet, you need one of these for satellite internet service, too.
For standard satellite internet providers like Hughesnet or Viasat, you'll need a professional to come and install your dish for you. Since standard satellite dishes are relatively permanent fixtures—at least while they're up—it's much easier to arrange for their installation with your provider if you own the property. Getting a dish installed as a renter requires agreement from the property owner, and likely your assurance that its removal will not result in any permanent damage. Check with your provider for their specific policies on this.
It may take up to a week for a service technician to come to your home to install your satellite connection. Certified technicians are specially trained to locate the best location for your satellite dish and securely attach it to your home. Most satellite dishes are roughly 30 inches by 30 inches.
Starlink is again unique in its installation process… namely, that it barely has one at all. Instead of massive roof-mounted dishes, SpaceX has created a small ground antenna that's designed entirely around easy self-installation. The receivers themselves are so small—just 19 inches in diameter–that, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, installation takes just two steps: plug in your dish, point it at the sky… and you're done. It automatically aligns itself with the satellite array using a motor inside the dish.
Find the Perfect Satellite Internet Plan
We've said it before and we'll say it again: when it comes to finding an internet plan, your best tool is WhistleOut's internet plan search engine.
We list hundreds of plans from dozens of carriers, but more importantly allow you to see which ones are available in your specific area. Simply type in your address into the field at the top, choose your preferred speed, and press search. You'll presented with all DSL, cable, fiber and satellite plans that serve your address. If you only want to see satellite plans, you can filter for them under "connection type." Get started by punching your home address in the widget below.
Satellite Internet FAQs
Who is satellite internet best for?
Satellite internet is best for customers who live in areas that wired internet can't easily reach. Rural and remote locations typically can't get support cable or fiber infrastructure, so satellite is usually the best option.
How much is satellite internet?
Satellite internet plans typically cost around $60-120/month, depending on your speed. You'll find some plans as low as $64/month and others as much as $120. You should also factor in the cost of leasing your dish and modem from your internet provider, which can be another $15-20/month.
Chris Holmes
Staff Writer
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