Satellite Internet Service Providers

In places where DSL and cable Internet service are lacking, American consumers do have a third choice for broadband in the form of satellite Internet service. Although they are not quite as fast as the best cable and DSL plans, satellite Internet providers do have plans starting at around 512 Kbps and reaching up to 2.0 Mbps in some areas.

If you are considering satellite Internet for your home, then it is best to be 100% sure that you can't get DSL or cable. If either of those are available, then you should pick them over satellite. You can call our toll-free number and check for Internet providers in your area:

Check For Satellite Internet Plans In Your Area - Call 1-877-476-0648

The goods news is that satellite is available anywhere in the contiguous 48 United States. It is much faster than 56K dial-up and it is probably the fastest broadband connection you can get in many rural areas of the country.

Reviews Of Satellite Internet Providers

In America, there are two satellite providers which most people are familiar with - HughesNet and WildBlue. These two companies will be your main choices for high speed Internet using a satellite connection. You can read reviews of them here:

• HughesNet Internet
• WildBlue Internet

Although there is a lot of interest in DIRECTV and Dish Network, neither of those major satellite TV providers is able to offer satellite Internet service. Instead, you can bundle other forms of broadband with either DIRECTV or the Dish Network. The Internet portion of such bundles will be DSL, cable, wireless (from Clearwire) or satellite Internet (from WildBlue), while the television service will be supplied by the satellite TV provider.

Read our overview of these bundled offers to learn more:

• DIRECTV Internet Bundle
• DISH Network Internet Bundle

The main benefits of getting TV, phone, and Internet bundles are lower monthly costs and the convenience of getting all three services on one bill. However, any agreements for service with satellite TV or satellite Internet providers are usually long-term (from 12 to 24 months) with possible installation costs, and sizable early termination fees. So, please make sure the bundle is exactly what you want it to be before getting it installed.

Check For Broadband Internet Bundles In Your Area - Call 1-877-476-0648

So, that's it - those are your choices for satellite Internet service in the U.S. at this time. There are some other options for businesses, but for residential service, those are the companies you must choose from. You can view our Satellite Internet Comparison for more details.

While your choice of providers is unlikely to change in the near future, there have been a couple of recent developments that should improve the quality of service and reduce the cost. The first is the forthcoming launch of new satellites that will increase the capacity and speeds of both HughesNet and WildBlue across the country. The second is stimulus funding from the FCC that might take care of the installation and equipment fees for new customers. Both of these topics are detailed further below.

New Satellites = More Capacity & Faster Connections

The sad truth is that satellite Internet service has always been the "other" broadband. You know, the one that people only use when nothing else is available. However, two new satellites are expected to be launched within the next 12 months that should give satellite providers more of a competitive footing against DSL and certain wireless Internet plans in rural areas. These new satellites be able to handle more subscribers at faster speeds.

In the second half of 2011, WildBlue expects to launch their next generation ViaSat-1 satellite. The ViaSat-1 will effectively double the capacity that WildBlue is capable of handling. Not to be outdone, HughesNet will launch their new Jupiter satellite, due sometime in the first half of 2012. Jupiter has a capacity of 100 gigabits per second, which is 10 times the capacity of their current satellite, the Spaceway3, launched back in 2008.

These new broadband Internet satellites are expected to have low-end connection speeds which start at around 2 Mbps, standard plans with average speeds of up to 5 Mbps, and speeds up to 20 Mbps on the high-end. We'll have to wait a few more months to see how that plays out, but ultimately, more Americans in rural areas will be able to get broadband connections that compete against DSL - in speed, if not in price. For a limited time, new customers of HughesNet, WildBlue, and Starband can get some price reductions through the Recovery Act program.

Recovery Act Funds For Broadband In Rural Areas

There are some special savings on satellite available right now through the Recovery Act Program. If you have no DSL, cable, or wireless Internet available, and you sign an agreement to verify that to be true, you may quality for savings on your satellite fees. The program is intended to help rural Americans with some of the initial setup costs involved in moving up to broadband. HughesNet and WildBlue were the main recipients of these Recovery Act funds, so check their review pages to see if you are eligible for these savings.

The FCC requires that all two-way satellite equipment must be professionally installed, so the initial setup of all this equipment must be done by the company.

Check For Broadband Internet Service In Your Area - Call 1-877-476-0648

If you want to know more about broadband satellite and some of the many issues that come with it, then check our Satellite Providers section. It lists all of our ISP reviews for satellite, plus lots of information on FAP limits, dish alignment, and the like. If you want to explore the other types of broadband, then check our home page for additional High Speed Internet options.

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About The Author

Richard Lee Thomason
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If you are not sure exactly what type of high speed Internet is available in your area, then return home to check for alternatives to Satellite Internet service.