Satellite Internet Providers

Satellite internet uses a dish antenna at your home to communicate with satellites orbiting Earth. The core advantage is universal availability: as long as you have a clear view of the sky, satellite internet works. This makes it the only broadband option for millions of Americans in rural areas where no wired ISP has built infrastructure.

There are two fundamentally different types of satellite internet. Geostationary (GEO) satellite providers like Viasat and HughesNet use large satellites parked at 22,236 miles above the equator. The enormous distance means high latency (500-700 ms round trip), which makes video calls laggy and online gaming impractical. However, GEO satellites cover enormous areas, so just a few satellites can serve the entire continent.

Low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet, pioneered by SpaceX's Starlink, uses thousands of small satellites orbiting at just 340 miles. This dramatically reduces latency to 20-60 ms, approaching the performance of terrestrial broadband. Starlink has fundamentally changed what satellite internet can deliver, making it a genuine competitor to DSL and fixed wireless in many areas.

The trade-offs of satellite internet include higher costs (both monthly and equipment), weather sensitivity, and data usage policies. For most users, satellite should be considered when fiber, cable, and 5G home internet are not available at their address.

Choosing between satellite providers comes down to your priorities:

• Best overall performance: Starlink. Its LEO constellation delivers the fastest speeds (40-220 Mbps) and lowest latency (20-60 ms) of any satellite provider. It is the only satellite service suitable for video calls and casual gaming.
• Best for budget-conscious users: HughesNet. Starting at $50/mo with no contract option, HughesNet is the most affordable entry point. Speeds (25-100 Mbps) are adequate for basic browsing, email, and standard-definition streaming.
• Best for heavy data usage: Viasat. Higher-tier plans include generous soft data caps and faster speeds (up to 100 Mbps). After hitting your data threshold, speeds slow but service continues without overage charges.

All three providers are available nationwide. Starlink may have a waitlist in some areas due to capacity constraints, so sign up early if interested. Viasat and HughesNet are available immediately with professional installation.

Satellite internet should typically be your choice of last resort, not your first choice. Here is the decision framework:

1. Check for fiber first. If fiber is available at your address, it will outperform satellite in every metric: speed, latency, reliability, and usually price.
2. Then check cable. Cable internet also outperforms satellite for most uses, with faster speeds, lower latency, and lower equipment costs.
3. Then check 5G home internet. T-Mobile and Verizon 5G home plans are expanding into rural areas and offer 100-300 Mbps at $25-50/mo with no equipment fees.
4. Then check fixed wireless. Regional wireless ISPs may serve your area with speeds of 25-100 Mbps at reasonable prices.
5. Satellite is ideal when none of the above are available. For the roughly 15% of U.S. households in remote rural areas, satellite (especially Starlink) provides the best available broadband.