Starlink also has lower latency than Viasat (20-50ms vs.
#Hughesnet internet speed test download#
If you are one of the 145,000 or so current users of Starlink internet service, then you're experiencing a broadband connection with higher maximum download and upload speeds than Viasat (250Mbps/20Mbps compared to 100Mbps/3Mbps). We'll keep this post updated as your options (hopefully) improve. Innovations from low Earth orbit satellites will be just one piece of the puzzle of better delivering the internet option to the millions of households still unable to find a reliable broadband source. While nowhere near the stage that Starlink has achieved thus far, Project Kuiper did turn some heads when its prototype delivered speeds up to 400Mbps in recent iterations. It should also be mentioned that further disruption may come from another multibillionaire, Jeff Bezos, as Amazon's Project Kuiper also aims to enter the field. It's safe to say that Starlink is beginning to change expectations of how satellite internet can perform. HughesNet was closely behind Viasat at just shy of 21Mbps download speed. Its median download speed in the US was just over 104Mbps, while Viasat was a distant second place with nearly 22Mbps download speed. Stay tuned to CNET for the latest developments with Starlink as it presses further into its plans and aims to expand its coverage.Īccording to Ookla speed test data from Q4 of 2021, Starlink was clearly the winner as the fastest satellite provider on average. What's on the horizon for satellite internet providers? Read our hands-on experience with Starlink. Those facts could undoubtedly change as Starlink continues to grow, but they're intriguing aspects of the pitch that could help set it apart from the competition. Once you consider the decent upload speed, these are pretty considerable upgrades for anyone stuck with satellite internet. Lastly, while the equipment fee of $599 - and a whopping $2,500 for Starlink Premium - is steeper than those charged by either HughesNet or Viasat, Starlink does not require a two-year contract and features genuinely unlimited data.
The newly announced Premium tier should be available by the summer of 2022 and offers a different satellite dish and equipment for higher download speeds, but also comes at a heftier price.
Second, Starlink keeps things simple by going with only two satellite internet plans - Starlink and Starlink Premium. It also features a latency of between 20 and 40 milliseconds, compared to the more typical range of 450-700ms for HughesNet and Viasat. Granted, this satellite provider is still in the early stages - there's a waiting list at present and currently just over 145,000 active users - but the early results, as shared by our own John Kim, are promising.įirst, at 250Mbps, the max download speeds are higher than those offered by HughesNet and Viasat. When eccentric billionaire Elon Musk isn't garnering headlines as Time's Person of the Year for 2021 or putting a pause on a potential Twitter buyout, he's making some noteworthy progress with his company SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet project. Read more: Best Rural Internet Providers of 2022 Satellite internet provider comparisons But here's what you'll find when you start to explore satellite internet access, starting with a quick look at how the best satellite internet providers compare. But which of the satellite internet providers is the best?įrankly, there aren't many choices out there. Still, when internet access is absolutely vital (and the pandemic has shed light on just how critical it is), satellite broadband can play a key role. It doesn't match the internet speed capabilities of fiber or cable connections. In the meantime, satellite internet is the one broadband connection type currently available to people in the rural areas of all 50 states. The good news? President Joe Biden's infrastructure package includes money to help bridge that digital divide. There's some disagreement on the exact numbers, but a growing chorus of voices agree the US has work to do to increase and expand its internet infrastructure. It's not breaking news that many in rural America lack adequate internet access.
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