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Home > Satellite Internet > Compare Satellite Internet

Satellite Internet Service Providers Comparison

There are only a handful of satellite Internet providers in the U.S. that operate their own separate satellite systems. This comparison will focus on what I like to call the "Big Four". These four providers represent the main choices for satellite Internet service in the United States, both for residential and home/small business purposes.

HughesNet is by far the largest Satellite Internet provider in America, but they are not without competition. Wildblue, Skyway, and Starband all offer service throughout the contiguous 48 United States, and this article compares them with the popular HughesNet. We will look at price, speed, fair access policies, and other features . . .

Side-By-Side Comparison Of The Big Four

Each provider has several plans to choose from, which makes comparing them this way a little difficult. For this chart, we will use plans that have at least 768 Kbps download speed, which will be what an entry-level DSL package will provide you with:

* Monthly prices shown require a 24-month commitment. Equipment fees take mail-in rebates into consideration (listed price is after mail-in rebate is deducted). Activation fees shown are for purchases; if you decide to lease, there may be an activation fee.

** Providers are constantly running specials that waive or reduce the installation fees. Check with the provider or reseller before signing up to ensure that installation fees are truly included or "free."

*** Thresholds represent the maximum amount of bandwidth you can use for data downloads. Amounts beyond the threshold will trigger the provider's Fair Access Policy.

Account Extras: With all four providers, you will get a few hours of free dialup access, 24/7 online support, phone support 7 days / week, and anti-virus / anti-spyware software.

Comparing The FAP's (Fair Access Policies)

Every satellite Internet provider has some form of "Fair Access Policy", also referred to as a "Reasonable Use Policy". These policies place a restriction on the overall amounts of data you can download or upload in a given time period. If you exceed the limit, you will experience restricted speeds over a length of time called the "Recovery Period".

For more detail, read our article on how a Fair Access Policy will affect your service. For a quick comparison of satellite Internet providers, use the following:

Another point to consider with FAP's is whether or not the satellite providers offer you a download period when the bandwidth you use does not count towards the FAP:

• HughesNet - Three-hour download period from 3 AM to 6 AM
• Wildblue - None offered
• Skyway USA - None offered
• Starband - Six-hour download period from Midnight to 6 AM

You'll need to consider your own Internet usage and how much you download on a daily or monthly basis. If you rarely download more than a few MB's per day, then HughesNet's daily FAP limit will support you just fine. If you sometimes download large amounts of data on one or two days out of the month, but stay under 6 GB of data total per month, then a longer FAP period (rolling 7-day or rolling 30-day) will suit you much better.

Note: You might want to try a program like NetMeter to monitor your own speeds and bandwidth consumption so that you can avoid exceeding your FAP limit.

HughesNet Pros / Cons

With dozens of resellers and over 400,000 customers in the U.S. alone, HughesNet is probably the first choice people think of for satellite Internet service.

HughesNet Advantages:

• Fastest plans available, up to 5 Mbps download speeds
• Options to either lease or buy the equipment
• Repair labor and parts warranties are 24 months each
• Uses satellite modems with diagnostic and configuration options

With it's daily limit on usage, HughesNet customers encounter the FAP more often than customers of other satellite Internet providers, even though the penalty is shorter.

HughesNet Disadvantages:

• Probably the most restrictive FAP limits among all satellite providers
• Minimum 24-month service commitment
• Most customer support is based outside of the U.S.

For more information, please read our HughesNet Satellite Internet Review.

Wildblue Pros / Cons

The second largest satellite provider in the U.S., Wildblue is partnered with Google for various Internet services, such as email, custom content and Web applications.

Wildblue Advantages:

• Free standard installation and comparably low startup fees
• Reasonably high overall FAP limits for monthly use
• Customer support representatives are based in the U.S.

Wildblue's service differs from other "two-way" providers by using a spot beam signal, so signal strength varies from area to area, and many areas of the U.S. are not covered.

Wildblue Disadvantages:

• Minimum 24-month service commitment
• Can be a long recovery period if you exceed the FAP limit
• DOCSIS modems don't allow for diagnostic or configuration options

For more information, please read our Wildblue Satellite Internet Review.

Skyway USA Pros / Cons

The only "one-way" satellite provider in this comparison, Skyway represents the cheapest option for satellite Internet service in rural America.

Skyway USA Advantages:

• Lowest initial startup costs for equipment, installation & activation
• Cheapest satellite Internet plans available, starting at $29.95/mo.
• Reduced overall latency from "one-way" system; only a half-second delay
• Most rain fade eliminated by their Terrestrial / Satellite hybrid network

Although Skyway's FAP limit's seem reasonable, they actually start to slow you down long before you reach your total limit for the month.

Skyway USA Disadvantages:

• Relies on a dialup Internet connection for uploads, limited to 56 Kbps
• Cheaper plans are much slower, starting at 256 Kbps download speeds
• Download speeds throttle slower and slower as you get closer to your FAP limit
• Long recovery period; reduced speeds will last until next billing cycle

For more information, please read our Skyway USA Satellite Internet Review.

Starband Pros / Cons

Of the "two-way" satellite providers, Starband has the lowest "Contention Factor", which means that they have fewer users sharing the same bandwidth resources.

Starband Advantages:

• Both 12 month and 24 month service plans are available
• Probably the most reasonable FAP limits among all satellite providers
• Also available in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• DISH TV and Starband high-speed Internet available on a single dish

Starband is a quality provider, as far as satellite Internet goes, but they do generally cost more to get started with than other satellite services.

Starband Disadvantages:

• Professional installation is required and does cost extra
• Slightly higher monthly costs as compared to other providers
• Only two residential service plans to choose from

For more information, please read our Starband Satellite Internet Review.

Learn As Much As You Can Before Making A Choice

It's not our place to recommend any one of these providers over the other. Hopefully we've provided you with enough information to make an informed decision of your own. Also, please remember that satellite Internet service should always be your last choice when it comes to broadband Internet. We suggest the following order:

• First choice: DSL, cable or fiber optic connection
• Second choice: EV-DO or a wireless Internet service provider (WISP)
• Third choice: Satellite Internet service

You can read more about EV-DO and WISP's in our section on wireless Internet. Both of those services are increasing their availability in rural areas. They are very comparable to satellite in terms of speed and monthly price, but have far fewer problems (such as high latency, high startup costs, and weather issues).

If satellite is your only choice for broadband at this time, we recommend reading our articles on Satellite Internet Connection Issues and the Fair Access Policy before signing up for any provider. Since it costs a large amount to start with a satellite Internet provider, and you will be with them for at least 12 to 24 months or longer, it's best to be as informed as you possibly can prior to making the decision.

	Satellite Internet Articles		More On Satellite Providers
	Compare Satellite Internet		Rural Internet Service
	Fair Access Policy		Walmart Internet / HughesNet
	Satellite Connection Issues		Business Satellite Internet

From our website, you can compare Satellite Internet providers with other forms of rural high speed Internet, such as Clearwire's Wi-Max or Verizon's EV-DO network.