{"id":3972,"date":"2020-02-06T23:46:06","date_gmt":"2020-02-06T23:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.mymove.com\/?p=3972"},"modified":"2025-07-09T18:54:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T18:54:31","slug":"satellite-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymove.com\/internet\/satellite-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"Find satellite internet for your home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re relocating to a remote area of the United States, satellite internet may be your only option. It’s available almost everywhere in the country, but it’s generally a lot slower and more expensive than other types of internet, and you’ll have to deal with restrictive data caps. There are three main satellite internet providers: Hughesnet, Viasat, and, more recently, Starlink. On this page, we’ll go over how satellite internet works, the pros and cons of each provider, and some ways to save on your bill. <\/p>\n\n\n

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What is satellite internet?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the name suggests, satellite internet providers connect you to the internet through dedicated satellites that transmit and receive data while orbiting in space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internet satellites are geostationary, which means that they maintain their location relative to Earth by orbiting the planet exactly once every 24 hours. ISPs using these geostationary satellites are able to provide coverage almost everywhere in the country<\/a>, offering service to rural areas that might have previously been limited to dial-up internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the signals beaming into and back from space, the experience of using satellite internet is the same as using any other type of connection. However, you will need different hardware to connect to service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How does satellite internet work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In addition to your modem and router (or combination device that does both), you’ll also need a satellite dish. Internet satellites use spot beams to transmit signals to specific parts of the country, and your satellite dish must be carefully positioned to bring in the proper signal. In most cases, satellite internet providers will send a technician to position your dish for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you connect to the internet, data is transmitted back and forth between your dish, the satellite orbiting the Earth, and your provider\u2019s network operations center (NOC). The NOC uses a much larger dish to support its customers, and it also connects to the backbone of the internet to send and receive the data you request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that satellite internet speeds are not high when compared to options such as fiber-optic or cable. High-speed satellite internet, offered through Viasat, goes up to 150 Mbps<\/a>. By comparison, Hughesnet plans typically only reach 100 Mbps<\/a>. Satellite speeds tend to be faster than those of traditional DSL, which hover around 15 Mbps. But wired connections can reach internet speeds of 1,000 Mbps (cable<\/a>) and 5,000 Mbps (fiber).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Satellite internet near me<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are only three satellite internet providers in the United States: Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink. Hughesnet and Viasat are available almost everywhere throughout the country, while Starlink is still expanding its service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provider<\/b><\/td>Starting price* <\/b><\/td>Speeds<\/b><\/td>Data Caps<\/b><\/td>Contract<\/b><\/td><\/tr>
Hughesnet<\/a><\/td>$39.99\/mo.<\/td>Up to 100 Mbps<\/td>No hard data limits<\/td>One to two years<\/td><\/tr>
Viasat<\/td>$99.99\/mo.<\/td>Up to 150 Mbps<\/td>No hard data limits<\/td>Two years<\/td><\/tr>
Starlink<\/td>$80.00\/mo.<\/td>Up to 500 Mbps<\/td>No hard data limits<\/td>None<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
*Prices updated 07\/09\/25.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A deeper dive into Hughesnet satellite internet<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n