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Consolidated Communications / Fidium and HughesNet are two of the most searched internet providers in the United States. Below, we compare their plans, pricing, speeds, coverage, and customer satisfaction to help you choose the best option for your home internet needs.
Quick Answer
HughesNet wins the Consolidated Communications / Fidium vs HughesNet comparison in 2026. Consolidated Communications / Fidium offers Various internet starting at Contact for pricing/mo with speeds up to Varies (no contract). HughesNet offers Satellite internet starting at $50/mo/mo with speeds up to 100 Mbps (contract required). The price difference is $949/mo at entry level. The faster provider reaches 100 Mbps vs Varies.
Consolidated Communications / Fidium and HughesNet are both major internet service providers, but they take different approaches to delivering broadband. Consolidated Communications / Fidium primarily uses various technology, while HughesNet relies on satellite. This fundamental difference affects speed consistency, latency, and upload performance.
On raw speed, HughesNet leads with a maximum of 100 Mbps compared to Consolidated Communications / Fidium's Varies. However, the fastest plan isn't always the best value — consider whether you actually need speeds above 500 Mbps for your household. For most households of 2-4 people, a plan in the 200-500 Mbps range handles HD streaming, video calls, and general browsing with room to spare.
From a cost perspective, HughesNet has the edge with plans starting at $50/mo versus Contact for pricing. Consolidated Communications / Fidium stands out here by not requiring a contract, while HughesNet does require one. Both providers impose data caps (Varies for Consolidated Communications / Fidium, 100 GB for HughesNet), so heavy users should factor in potential overage charges.
Fidium Fiber is a fiber internet brand by Consolidated Communications, serving 12 states with symmetrical speeds up to 2 Gbps, starting at just $25/mo with no contracts or data caps. HughesNet is a geostationary satellite internet provider available across all 50 U.S. states, offering speeds up to 100 Mbps for rural and remote areas.
| Feature | Fidium Fiber | HughesNet |
|---|---|---|
| Max Speed | 2 Gbps | 100 Mbps |
| Starting Price | $25/mo | $50/mo |
| Technology | Fiber (FTTH) | Geostationary Satellite |
| Contracts | No | Yes |
| Feature | Consolidated Communications / Fidium | HughesNet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Speed | Varies | 100 Mbps | HughesNet Wins |
| Starting Price | Contact for pricing | $50/mo | HughesNet Wins |
| Coverage (ZIP Codes) |
Choose HughesNet if raw speed is your priority (up to 100 Mbps). Choose HughesNet for a more budget-friendly option (starting at $50/mo). Ultimately, the best provider depends on availability at your address, your speed requirements, and whether you prefer no-contract or contract plans.
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, December 2024
Enter your ZIP code to see if Consolidated Communications / Fidium or HughesNet is available
| Data Caps |
| No |
| Yes |
| 2,064 |
| 29,198 |
| HughesNet Wins |
| Primary Technology | Various | Satellite | Depends on needs |
| Contract Required | No | Yes | Consolidated Communications / Fidium Wins |
| Data Cap | Varies | 100 GB | Tie |