In today's modern world, having fast, reliable internet connectivity is becoming a must for life. Finding a reliable internet service provider may be challenging for people who reside in distant areas. Satellite internet has become a practical choice for people who live in remote locations with little access to regular broadband services.
HughesNet and Viasat are two of the biggest satellite internet providers in the United States. Both providers have unique qualities and restrictions, even though they provide similar services.
In this article, you'll see the battle between Viasat vs. HughesNet to help you choose the best satellite internet provider for your rural area. We will evaluate each provider's plans, price, data use, speed, latency, installation, and customer service reputation to help you make an educated choice. Let's dive in!
Viasat vs HughesNet: Which Satellite Internet for Rural Areas is Best?
1. Price
When selecting a satellite internet service, price is among the most important factors. Choosing a budget that meets your budget is essential because Viasat and HughesNet provide options at various pricing points.
HughesNet offers plans with monthly costs ranging from $59.99 for 10 GB to $149.99 for 50 GB of data. Viasat offers subscriptions with download speeds ranging from 12 Mbps for $50 to 100 Mbps for $150 monthly.
Although both carriers provide unlimited data plans, there are certain limitations to consider. While Viasat's eternal plan has no hard data limits but may experience speed slowdowns during heavy network congestion, HughesNet's unlimited plan throttled speeds after you exceed a specific level of data use.
2. Speed
Your internet connection's speed is another essential factor to consider. Although satellite internet speeds have been increasing, it has an image for being slower than regular internet. HughesNet's maximum speed is 25 Mbps, less than Viasat's 100 Mbps full speed. Even so, HughesNet has a "SpeedBoost" function that lets you momentarily improve your speed for activities like streaming films or downloading huge files.
The internet plan and your location may affect the Viasat speeds. The corporation uses several satellites to supply internet service. Thus specific areas can have access to quicker speeds than others. The "Unlimited Platinum 100" service from Viasat provides download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and an unlimited data allowance with no hard limits on the total amount of data that may be sent.
3. Latency
While selecting a satellite internet provider, latency—the interval between sending a request and receiving a response—should be considered. A drawback of using satellite internet for video conferencing or online gaming is that it has a more significant latency than other forms of internet connection.
Viasat has a delay of around 500 to 600 ms, whereas HughesNet has a latency of about 600 to 700 ms. But, likely, some users will notice the change. Individuals who rely significantly on a fast internet connection may find this an issue.
4. Installation
When selecting a satellite internet provider, installation is another vital aspect to consider. Professional installation is necessary for HughesNet and Viasat, which might raise the price of the service.
Installing a satellite dish on your property and a wire to a modem inside takes an average of two to three hours. Similar to other installations, HughesNet typically takes 3 to 4 hours.
5. Customer Service
Service quality is the last consideration you should make when selecting an internet provider. Customer support at Viasat and HughesNet has drawn mixed reviews, with some users citing lengthy wait periods and trouble fixing their problems.
Even so, groups like J.D. Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) have given Viasat higher scores. J.D. Power gave Viasat a score of 733 in 2021, while HughesNet scored 645.
Final Thoughts:
It all comes down to pricing, speed, latency, installation, and customer service when deciding which satellite internet provider is ideal for your remote location. Viasat and HughesNet provide various plans and services for satellite internet service. It's critical to thoroughly analyze your selections to select the one that matches your needs and spending limit. While Viasat delivers quicker speeds and reduced latency, HughesNet may be the most advantageous alternative for some, especially when wide coverage is preferred.
Ultimately, you can make an educated choice and guarantee access to the best satellite internet service for your remote location by carefully performing the necessary research and comparing the various alternatives.
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