If you’re reading this, you’re either interested in or looking to get satellite internet. And while satellite internet might not be the most popular option in some areas of the world, mostly the heavily populated ones, that isn’t always the case. In many rural and remote areas, satellite internet might be the only way for people to get a decent internet connection or any internet connection at all.
We’re here to help you learn more about satellite internet and find which satellite internet providers and plans are available in your area just by putting in your zip code. Keep on reading to learn more:
Understanding Satellite Internet
Satellite internet is one of the internet options available to you, and you might think of it as such, but what is it really? How does it work, and what makes it different? Here’s the key information you need to know:
What is Satellite Internet
Satellite internet is a form of broadband internet in which broadband access is available via a communications satellite orbiting the earth above your home. Rather, a network of them is used. It is not limited by infrastructure on earth or the need for cable, fiber, or phone lines. Additionally, it is wireless in a different way from your wireless data or fixed wireless service that has become a competitor to satellite internet in recent years. There are only a few major providers. Due to its advantages, it has become popular in some areas and some communities. It can even be set up on things such as boats, RVs, and trucks, making it an option for people on the go.
It is also still a developing technology and service. Satellite internet is now divided into a couple of categories: high-altitude and low-altitude, referring to the placement of the satellites above the earth. Each has its own advantages at this time that we’ll get into later. Additionally, there are concerns about space debris from the thousands of satellites that are roaming above the earth, but the satellites themselves are improving, as are the receiver dishes that are necessary to pick up the signal. Space isn’t easy to work with and requires a significant investment, but satellite internet is proving to be an option that brings connections to people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get them.
How Satellite Internet Works
Satellite internet works via radio waves. You might think it works much like WiFi because of that, but it’s entirely different (see our FAQs section). Satellite internet starts with an ISP sending communications satellites into orbit. After this rather complex, lengthy, and expensive process, the ISP will then send a signal to these satellites in orbit.
The satellites reroute the signal and send it back to Earth, where it is picked up by a powered receiver dish that the customer has installed in their place of business or home. The dish requires a clear line of sight to the sky and needs to be powered, but those are the only real requirements (no other connection to the outside world is necessary). The dish takes the signal and then runs it to a modem, which translates the signal to the internet connections that you or we would be familiar with. It can provide broadband speeds, offer some upload speed as well (unfortunately not so fast) and keep people connected to the modern age.
If it helps, in practice satellite internet isn’t all that different from satellite TV. Just remember that the internet and broadband are fundamentally comprised of information, and whatever works to transmit that information can be a helpful tool.
How Fast is Satellite Internet
Compared to connection methods of the past and some of the present, satellite internet is still a high-speed option that can bring modern internet functionality to the average user, even if they live in remote or rural areas. However, how fast is satellite internet, and what is the maximum speed it can provide?
It probably is wise to divide the top speeds into both high-altitude and low-altitude satellite internet.
- High-altitude satellite internet has Viasat offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps, though it should be noted that this isn’t available everywhere and it is quite expensive. More on this later. Upload speeds unfortunately only reach 3-5 Mbps with most plans and latency will be an issue, reaching well into the hundreds of milliseconds.
- Low-altitude satellite internet (currently just Starlink) is a different story and is much faster. The fastest business plans reach up to 500 Mbps (though this too is expensive) and can offer 10 Mbps upload speeds. And latency is not nearly so bad. For the average consumer download speeds can reach up to 250 Mbps, though it can vary.
Those are pretty fast speeds under optimal conditions, yet what can you realistically do with satellite internet and how does it fare when doing normal online activities? Here are some of the most common ones:
- Most users will be able to stream videos at higher resolutions, depending on their plan as well as what else they are doing with their connection at the same time. Under good conditions, satellite internet is capable of streaming even 4K content to users without much buffering. The 25 Mbps speeds of the slower plans might be limiting, but other plans should be fine for it.
- Streaming music should be a breeze for satellite internet users so long as the connection is unbroken and clear. Bandwidth will not be the limiting factor.
- Normal web browsing, social media usage, messaging, and email are all more than possible with satellite internet.
- Teleconferencing and video-calling are possible from a bandwidth perspective, but users might run into issues with the high latency that comes with most satellite internet connections (at least high-altitude satellite internet).
- Online gaming enthusiasts will run into a similar issue: the bandwidth will make most multiplayer games too laden with a lag to enjoy. Turn-based games may be possible, though, and as long as the data cap hasn’t been hit downloading games should be easy as well.
- Remote work is possible with satellite internet, with some caveats. The issues with teleconferencing mentioned above may mean work-related video calls are unproductive. Smaller files such as word documents and smaller PDFs will pose no issues, but larger multimedia files might take too long to upload for a responsive and effective remote workplace.
Other activities might depend on the exact satellite internet plan in question. Additionally, it should be noted that satellite internet usually comes with stricter data caps than other types of broadband internet service (the exact cap depends on how much you’re willing to pay). People downloading many large files or streaming content constantly at a high resolution might run into those caps quickly, leaving their connection throttled for a period of time.
Top 3 Satellite Internet Service Providers
In the United States, there are three major satellite internet providers to choose from, or two depending on where you are. However, providers are expanding and other large companies are considering entering the space (literally). As of this writing, there are a few clear market leaders who can provide service currently.
Here are the top three providers you should consider, in no distinct order:
HughesNet
HughesNet is the best option for people seeking more affordable satellite internet plans. It will not be the fastest option (in fast in most cases it is the slowest), but for people who just need access and don’t need the absolute best connection, it is often the best option. It is available across the entire United States, including all of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. It has a reputation for consistent speeds, as least compared to other providers. However, it also has a reputation for relatively poor customer service, which can be an issue if you run into problems or want to change something about your plan.
Additional details include:
Pricing: Based on current plans, the monthly cost for a HughesNet plan after six months (an introductory period) ranges from $65 a month to $150 a month, with the difference being the data cap you have to work with each month. Other notable expenses are a $99 installation fee (waived if you purchase your equipment) and a $400 early termination fee that decreases by $15 a month after the first 90 days of service.
Equipment Costs: In addition to the monthly service fees, users will either pay $15 a month for their equipment or buy it outright for a one-time $450 purchase price.
Speeds Available: HughesNet only offers plans with one speed: 25 Mbps. Upload speeds are 3 Mbps across the board. This will be enough to do basic browsing and have a connection to the outside world, but users shouldn’t expect the world and will not be able to do everything at once when it comes to the internet. This policy of having the same maximum download speed across all plans leads to more consistency from them and better coverage, but there still might be times when actual speeds do not match advertised speeds.
Data Caps: The main difference between plans with HughesNet is the data cap. At the lowest tier of the plan, you’ll have 15 GB to work with. This isn’t very much and will limit you to basic usage and browsing. The highest tier plan costing $150 a month will net you 100 GB of data to work with each month, which is a bit more reasonable though still quite limiting.
And while HughesNet might offer “unlimited data”, know that it is nothing of the sort. While you won’t be charged if you go above your monthly data allowance, your connection will be throttled from 1Mbps to 3 Mbps for the rest of the month, making the internet hardly usable for much more than email and the like.
When it comes to data caps, there is a big workaround: HughesNet offers a “bonus zone” where users get an additional 50GB of data to work with each month between the hours of 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. It’s hardly the most convenient time but scheduling a download for then might be the best move for users.
Viasat
Viasat is the pricier, faster option among the two high-altitude satellite internet providers. It is the best when you are looking for faster plans with greater data allowances, and it can also be the option that allows someone to have a relatively normal online life with a fair amount of streaming, downloads, and more going on in the household. It is available across the continental United States and Hawaii. It is not available in Puerto Rico, and available in only parts of Alaska.
However, in terms of availability, it should be noted that some areas might have access to the “unlimited plans” while others might have access to the “New Choice” plans (newer options that can have faster speeds). As time goes on, more areas will have the “New Choice” plans and the “Unlimited” plans will be phased out. We’ll differentiate between them below as best we can.
Additional details include:
Pricing: Prices among the “Unlimited” plans range from $100 a month for the cheapest plan to $400 a month for the most expensive plan with the best download speed and highest data cap. The lowest plans provide lower speeds for more money compared to HughesNet with just a slightly higher data cap.
Among the “New Choice” plans, the price will range from $85 to $350 a month, though with nearly every plan you’ll be getting more for your money than the “Unlimited” plans.
In any case, you can likely expect a three-month introductory offer at a lower price as well as a price guarantee for two years, though a contract for that time is required.
Equipment Costs: The cost for the equipment is either a $299 one-time purchase price or $13 a month to rent the equipment.
Speeds Available: Depending on the plan, download speeds range from 12 Mbps to 150 Mbps. People with the “New Choice” set of options will have plans ranging from 25Mbps download speed to 150 Mbps. People with the “Unlimited” set of options ranging from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
Note, however, that not all plans will be available in all areas. While Viasat is available across the country, only certain areas will have access to the top plans. Make sure to look up what’s available to you before committing to Viasat.
In all cases, upload speeds will be 3 Mbps, which is a problem but the standard for high-altitude satellite internet.
Data Caps: Data caps change depending on the service plan the customer gets from Viasat. And while some plans might be titled “unlimited”, there are certainly data caps to be concerned about. The smallest data caps are 40 GB per month at the lowest tier plans among either the “New Choice” or “Unlimited” selections. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people can get the best plans (at great cost) to get 300 GB of data allowance per month. While this might be less than the average household uses per month, it is still a fair amount of data to work with and can help a household live a normal life no matter where they are.
Note that much like the speeds, the plans available when it comes to data caps can vary based on where you live. Be sure to do more research and use the method later on in the article to see what plans are available to you.
Starlink
The most recent of the satellite ISPs and the one getting the most attention recently, Starlink is in something of a category all its own when compared to HughesNet and Viasat, being a low-altitude satellite internet provider. Instead of a network of high-altitude satellites, Starlink hopes to use a network of thousands of high-tech low-altitude satellites to provide high-speed satellite internet access around the world. The good news is that in areas where it is functioning the concept has been generally proven. The bad news is that there are still thousands to tens of thousands of satellites that still need to be launched for coverage to be more universal.
Starlink only offers a few plans, though getting ahold of them might take some patience and maneuvering. It isn’t available across the country, and it may be a while until it is, despite promises to the contrary. You will want to look up whether it is available to you using the method described later in the article.
Additional details include:
Pricing: The normal Starlink plan costs $110 a month, and starts that way. Currently, there are no contracts required with Starlink. There is an additional premium or business plan that costs $500 per month. There is also the Starlink RV plan, which is identical to the normal plan but costs $135 per month.
Equipment Costs: Starlink’s kit is rather expensive, with the standard service charging $599 for the hardware. Those looking for the premium service will be looking at a $2499 bill for the equipment (this is not recommended for the average household).
Speeds Available: Starlink customers are told to expect speeds between 50 and 250 Mbps, varying based on a number of factors. Business or premium customers can expect speeds reaching potentially 500 Mbps, though note the expense listed above. However, while the promise is high, you should know that most people get something in the middle of that range or slightly below it, with mean download speeds often resting between 80-100 Mbps. This is still much better than DSL and can rival many other plans.
Upload speeds range from 10 Mbps to 20 Mbps, but this is much better and on par with most broadband plans available, satellite or not. It is fine for anyone except those with a specific need for high upload speeds, such as streamers and some professionals.
A notable difference between Starlink and the other satellite providers is the latency. While latency is a huge issue for HughesNet and Viasat, with Starlink it usually rests reliably below 50ms, which is perfectly acceptable for most uses.
Data Caps: As of this writing, there are no data caps with Starlink and unlike HughesNet and Viasat usage is truly unlimited. However, there are talks of a 1TB data cap being put in place for some areas or for more users or plans in general in December. This would be unfortunate for users, but still put them on par with many other high-speed internet providers, even fiber broadband providers. 1TB is much more than the average household uses per month.
How to Locate Satellite Internet Providers by Zip Code
Here are the steps you need to take to locate satellite internet providers in your area.
- Go to https://www.broadbandsearch.net/provider/satellite.
- Scrolling down just a tiny bit on the right-hand side of the screen, you will see the “Search by Zip Code” field, where you will type in your zip code or the zip code where you want to learn more about providers. It should be right under “Find the Best Internet Provider in Your Area”
- Click “Search”.
- The page will generate a list of internet providers and their plans that are specific to your zip code. You will be able to see information related to max download speeds for plans as well as basic pricing information. Further links will tell you more about available plans.
Conclusion
There’s quite a bit to learn about satellite internet, but we invite you to return to this page as you feel the need and we hope that you have a better idea of the major providers. Choosing a plan (even if you’re set on satellite) will not be easy, but once you know your options and assess your priorities then the choice will be clear.
Remember that there are major differences to be aware of and that your location can and will matter when it comes to installation, signal quality, and more. Finally, adjust your expectations accordingly. We hope this article helped you and may you get exactly the plan you’re looking for.
FAQ
What are the advantages and disadvantages of satellite internet?
Satellite internet isn’t perfect. It is usually more expensive than other internet service types and can be less reliable. Additionally, it is usually slower (both upload and download speeds) and it has huge problems with latency, making tasks such as online gaming and video calling difficult to impossible. Additionally, the equipment can be expensive and there are often strict data limits that make normal everyday usage difficult.
On the other hand, satellite internet is available practically everywhere in some form, and is a way for people living in remote or rural areas to get internet access. It’s improving regularly, and many of the limits are becoming less severe as time goes on. While it absolutely isn’t the option for everyone, for many it is the only viable one.
How does satellite internet speed compared to other internet speeds?
Generally, satellite internet compares poorly to other service types. Compared to cable and fiber internet is it generally much slower, and the latency is much, much worse. DSL internet is a bit trickier to judge, as satellite can be faster though the latency will still be a problem. Upload speeds are comparable between DSL and Starlink.
Starlink might be the exception to this, with speeds that can compete well with cable and not pale in comparison to fiber (though fiber is still the clear winner).
Does satellite internet works when it's stormy?
Generally yes, though there might be some disruptions and slowdowns. Stormy weather is unlikely to affect the ISP sending out the signal and it certainly won’t affect the satellites themselves. However, the radio waves used with satellite internet can get diminished or disrupted by water in the air when it is raining. This could mean a weaker signal and in rare situations one that isn’t usable. And while technology has gotten better at mitigating this effect, it isn’t perfect yet.
Note that if you lose power as a result of the storm, winds knock your equipment out of the right position, or run into a similar issue, then obviously satellite internet might not work.
Why is satellite internet not available in some areas?
While satellite internet from one provider or another is available practically everywhere, not every location on earth is covered. This is because there needs to be satellite coverage in an area for the signal to be relayed. Satellite internet is generally caused by a network of satellites ensuring there is always something up there to work off. If there’s no satellite, there’s no internet.
Another potential reason that satellite internet might not be available (at least not practically) in some areas is that there is no easy line from the receiver/dish to the sky. A house at the bottom of a canyon is rare, but it would have difficulties getting satellite internet. Similarly, houses with lots of forest cover around them might have issues as well. You would probably know well in advance if you have an issue along these lines if you’re interested in satellite internet.
Is satellite internet the same as WiFi?
No. Satellite internet is a form of broadband internet that allows you to get a signal into your home via the ISP rerouting signals broadcast via radio waves through satellites to get to a receiver around your home. WiFi is a network in your home or business (a smaller location, generally) that allows devices to communicate with each other wirelessly using radio waves. It is generally associated with internet service. However, it does not require it (though a WiFi network without internet will be limited).
While there might be some surface similarities between satellite internet and WiFi and while the two are connected (you can use satellite internet to make sure devices on your WiFi network can reach the outside world), they are quite different.
