Satellite Internet access allows users who live in rural areas where other high-speed Internet options are not available access to high-speed connections. Each company offers several packages that allow you to take advantage of various speeds and data limitations based on your needs. Wild Blue and HughesNet, formerly known as Direcway, are among the top satellite Internet providers.
Wild Blue Speeds
Wild Blue offers customers three different packages, which each offering a different speed for uploads and downloads. The Value package is the cheapest of the three and offers users a download speed of up to 512 kilobits per second (kbps) and upload speeds up to 128 kbps. The Select package offers download speeds up to 1 megabit per second (Mbps) and upload speeds up to 200 kbps. If you choose to go with the Pro package, you can expect download speeds up to 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds up to 256 kbps.
HughesNet Speeds
With HughesNet you have three different packages to choose from, each offering different speeds. The lowest plan offered is the Basic package. This package offers users download speeds up to 1 Mbps and uploads up to 200 kbps. The Power 150 package offers users the ability to download up to 1.5 Mbps and upload up to 250 kbps. The last package, the Power 200, offers users download speeds up to 2 Mbps and upload speeds up to 300 kbps.
Wild Blue Limitations
Wild Blue places limitations on the data transferred by its customers in accordance with the Fair Access Policy. This policy helps ensure that all satellite Internet users receive the same service. The Value package limits users to 7,500 Mb downloaded and 2,300 Mb uploaded. The Select plan has thresholds of 12,000 Mb downloaded and 3,000 Mb uploaded. The Pro plan offers its users up to 17,000 Mb downloaded and 5,000 Mb uploaded. These thresholds are calculated monthly. If this threshold is exceeded, your speed may be affected.
HughesNet Limitations
HughesNet also limits the amount of data that a user can upload or download in a given time frame based on the Fair Access Policy. The Basic plan allows users up to 200 Mb downloaded. The Power 150 plan offers up to 300 Mb downloaded. The Power 200 plan allows users up to 400 Mb downloaded. There are no limitations on uploading. HughesNet, however, calculates data usage based on daily usage. It also offers "free" download times where downloads do not impact your data usage. Exceeding your usage can result in slower speeds.
References
- High Speed Internet: Satellite Internet Comparison
- Wild Blue: Detailed Package Comparison Chart
- HughesNet: Plans & Pricing
Photo Credits
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images