satellite internet
Satellite internet connects hard-to-reach homes
And unlimited satellite internet lets you do more with your connection—without extra data fees.
What is satellite internet?
Most internet providers send data to your home over underground wiring. Satellite internet service, on the other hand, sends data to and from your home using satellites orbiting Earth.
Is satellite internet “good”?
Because satellites can beam internet signal anywhere on the planet, they’re especially effective at getting service to rural areas. Far from a last resort, rural satellite internet today brings you the same download speeds you often see in more cosmopolitan areas.
Fastest satellite internet speeds run up to 100 Mbps in select areas
Unlimited3 satellite internet options remove the stress of overage charges
Available in cities and towns across the continental US
3Depending on the specific unlimited data service plan available at your location, after you use the following amount of High-Speed Data, you will continue to receive unlimited data (referred to as “Standard Data”); however, Viasat may prioritize Standard Data behind other customers during network congestion, which will result in slower speeds: Basic 12 (15 GB); Bronze 12 (35 GB, 40 GB or 80 GB); Silver 12 (45 GB); Gold 12 (65 GB); Bronze 25 (35 GB); Silver 25 (60 GB, 100 GB or 120 GB); Gold 30 (100 GB or 200 GB); Gold 50 (100 GB or 200 GB), Platinum 30 (150 GB ), Platinum 50 (150 GB) and Platinum 100 (150 GB or 300 GB). Speeds are up to and will vary.
How does satellite internet work?
All internet service providers (ISPs) use a wired or wireless network to send data requests from point A (your phone or computer) to point B (the servers of the app or website you’re visiting) and back again.
Cable, fiber, and DSL providers use underground wired networks to send this data back and forth. Satellite providers use radio waves that travel to space and back with a latency of <1 second.
Step 1
You click a news article. Your phone sends the data request to your home satellite dish.
Step 2
Your home satellite dish beams the article request up to your ISP’s satellites.
Step 3
The satellites bounce the request back down to your ISP’s ground stations.
Step 4
Your ISP’s ground station requests the article text from the publication’s servers.
Step 5
The server sends the article text along the same path right back to your satellite dish and phone.
What satellite internet speed is right for me?
If you’ve depended on dial-up for the last 20 years, even the slowest high-speed satellite internet plan gives you more ways to spend your time online. If you have more than a few people and connected devices under your roof, though, you may want even faster speeds.
For help choosing the best satellite internet connection speed, glance at the overview below or view the full guide.
Ideal for 1–2 devices
Best for checking email, banking, and online shopping
Ideal for 2–3 devices
Best for video chat, telecommuting, and light streaming
Ideal for 3–5 devices
Best for video conferencing and HD streaming
Ideal for 6+ devices
Best for using a variety of connected devices at the same time
Satellite internet: Good for streaming?
With unlimited satellite internet service becoming more widely available, you can now stream the same news clips, YouTube tutorials, and TikTok videos as everyone else without worrying about overage charges.
Depending on the specific unlimited data service plan available at your location, after you use the following amount of High-Speed Data, you will continue to receive unlimited data (referred to as “Standard Data”); however, Viasat may prioritize Standard Data behind other customers during network congestion, which will result in slower speeds: Basic 12 (15 GB); Bronze 12 (35 GB, 40 GB or 80 GB); Silver 12 (45 GB); Gold 12 (65 GB); Bronze 25 (35 GB); Silver 25 (60 GB, 100 GB or 120 GB); Gold 30 (100 GB or 200 GB); Gold 50 (100 GB or 200 GB), Platinum 30 (150 GB ), Platinum 50 (150 GB) and Platinum 100 (150 GB or 300 GB). Speeds are “up to,” will vary and is not guaranteed.
Satellite internet vs. cable service
Nationwide, cable and satellite providers serve more areas than other internet providers—but many cable providers still won’t serve rural areas. Satellite service bridges that digital divide with reliable high-speed internet access that doesn’t require you to live uptown.
Satellite internet access
Best for rural communities
Widely available throughout the United States, especially in remote areas
Delivered via wireless satellite system
Comes with metered or unlimited data depending on availability
Requires professional installation
Download speeds as fast as 100 Mbps in select areas
Cable internet access
Best for urban communities
Less availability, with service usually limited to cities and suburbs
Delivered via wired networks that require proximity to be cost-effective
Usually comes with unlimited data
Often requires professional installation
Download speeds as fast as 2,000 Mbps in select areas