What Is Satellite Internet?

What is satellite internet and how does it work?

Satellite internet is wireless internet beamed down from satellites orbiting the Earth. It’s a lot different from land-based internet services like cable or DSL, which transmit data through wires running underground. Since it’s the only internet service that’s available nationwide, satellite internet is a reliable way to get online for many rural homes and businesses, although it does still come with a few disadvantages (more on that later).

HughesNet and Viasat are the two primary residential satellite internet providers in the US. Starlink (from SpaceX) has recently become available, and Project Kuiper (from Amazon) will also offer satellite internet service.

If you’re looking for a mobile solution for a boat, truck, or RV, check out our guides to the best internet for RV and best internet for boats.

The best satellite internet providers

There are a limited amount of satellite internet service providers available to residential customers (that's you!), but fortunately, the three available offer value in variety.

Starlink has the highest speed and data caps, but it's the least available of the three. HughesNet is the cheapest and available everywhere, but it also has only one speed: 25 Mbps. Viasat, meanwhile, is probably the most expensive (if you're just getting residential internet; Starlink's business plans are more) but also has great speeds like Starlink and is available everywhere. 

Is satellite internet the only option in rural areas?

Maybe not! There are a growing number of internet options for rural areas. Some options offer more data and lower prices than satellite service, so we recommend you check out the best internet options for rural areas before you sign a contract.

Satellite internet works by using radio waves to communicate with satellites orbiting the Earth. Data is sent and retrieved through a communication network that starts with your device and travels through your modem and satellite dish, out to a satellite in space, then back to Earth to ground stations known as network operations centers (NOC). And then, data travels back through this network—out to space and then back to your satellite dish on Earth—to deliver data on your device.

Satellite internet uses a five-part relay system:

• Internet-ready device
• Modem/router
• Satellite dish
• Satellite in space
• Network Operations Center (NOC)

An internet-ready device is any device that can access the internet through the proper service. This includes your computer, tablet, smartphone, smart TV, gaming consoles, and any other internet-enabled equipment.

When you use the internet on one of these devices, it sends and receives data through your modem/router.

Translates data: A modem translates data so it can move between your internet-ready device and the satellite dish. You can connect some devices, like a computer, smart TV, or gaming console, directly to your modem using an ethernet cable.

Wi-Fi capabilities: However, those cables can get a bit messy, and you’ll still need Wi-Fi capabilities for devices like tablets and smartphones. That’s where a router comes in. It connects to the modem to give it Wi-Fi capabilities. A router broadcasts an internet signal wirelessly, so you can pick it up on your phone, laptop, or other device. HughesNet and Viasat satellite internet modems come with a router built in, although you can upgrade your network by using a fancier model if you’d like.

You can lease your modem from your satellite provider or you can buy it from them upfront, but you have to use the modem configured by your provider. Modems you see from BestBuy or Amazon don’t work with satellite internet. You can use your own router though. You can find a new router with our best routers and modems for satellite internet review.

The next step in the relay is your home satellite dish. This dish must be precisely positioned to beam signals to the provider’s satellite in orbit and receive information back. A certified technician from your provider will take care of placement for you.

The tricky positioning of a satellite dish can make satellite internet difficult for traveling RVs. Additionally, your account is set up to be under a specific spot beam from the satellite in space, so how far you would be able to travel and still get internet would be somewhat limited.

Roughly 22,000 miles above the surface of the Earth, satellites used in traditional satellite internet service (like what you get from Viasat and HughesNet) hover over the equator. They rotate with the planet, so the signal relay stays consistent. This is called a geostationary orbit. This allows for two-way data communication between your dish and the provider hub, or NOC.

At about 300 miles above the Earth, next-generation satellites from Starlink (SpaceX) and Project Kuiper (Amazon) are much closer to the Earth. These satellites are launched into low-Earth orbit (LEO). Because of their closer proximity, next-generation satellites can provide customers with faster internet speeds and lower latency than previous satellite internet services. But the downside is the satellites can’t cover as wide an area as satellites in geostationary orbit, so thousands of Starlink satellites are needed to deliver the same coverage area as two or three traditional satellites.

Both HughesNet and Viasat have their own satellite with spot beam technology. Spot beams cover specific areas of the US, rather than using one beam to cover the entire country.

Whenever you request information from the internet, whether you’re clicking on a link, streaming a show, or opening Facebook, the data from that request is uploaded through the above relay. The satellite then beams that request to the NOC.

Using a much larger satellite dish than the one you have at home, the NOC receives your request. The NOC then taps into the internet backbone, gathers the information you requested, and sends it back through the relay to you.

All of this process, including beaming information 22,000 miles into space and back twice, happens in fractions of a second.

Because the information has to travel so far, you may notice more latency (also called lag) than you might with DSL or cable internet, but advances in technology have made the satellite internet today much faster than it used to be.

Viasat (formerly Exede) and HughesNet are the two satellite internet providers in operation today. Viasat has faster speeds and higher data allowances, while HughesNet offers more affordable packages. Starlink is is available in select locations during the beta, although service may have interruptions until the Starlink's constellation is more fully built out.

Viasat offers 10 different plans—but we recommend you skip over the limited plans (called “Liberty”) and go for an unlimited plan. You’ll thank us when you don’t have to buy more data mid-month. In our in-depth Viasat review you can find a deep dive into what each plan offering entails. 

All HughesNet plans offer the same speeds—25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. You will choose the amount of data you need each month. In our HughesNet review you will find a deeper look into what these plans have to offer. 

Satellite internet is available to over 99% of the population of the US, including most (but not all) rural Americans. Since the internet signal is beamed down from satellites, you don’t need to have your home connected to a land-based internet network with wires or cables. This makes it helpful for folks who live in rural areas that lack that kind of internet infrastructure. That said, there are some rural residents who won’t be able to get a satellite internet connection. Satellite internet isn’t available in parts of Alaska or to folks who live in steep canyons where a signal can’t reach.

Yes, you can stream on most satellite internet plans, but you need to watch your data usage carefully. Video streaming uses a lot of data, and data is precious with satellite internet plans. Satellite internet providers limit the amount of full-speed data you get every month, depending on how much you’re paying for. So, if you stream too much and hit your data cap, your speeds will drop to throttled speeds, which can be as low as 1.5–3 Mbps for the rest of the month. Ouch! That will make everything from streaming to participating in work Zoom meetings a lot harder.

For people who live in rural areas, satellite internet is a good option because it’s their only option. Satellite internet has data limits and slower speeds than other types of internet, so we don’t recommend it over cable, fiber, or DSL. Satellite internet isn’t good for fast-paced gaming because it has high latency (ping rate), which gives you an extra delay any time you’re requesting or sending data. But satellite internet is good for emailing, browsing, and other low-data online activities.

Satellite internet speeds range from 12–100 Mbps, which is enough speed for common online activities like emailing, browsing, and online schooling. You can even stream video to a limited extent (just don’t go overboard with streaming because you’ll have throttled speeds for the rest of the month if you use all your priority data).

You can get Wi-Fi through a satellite internet connection, but it’s not the same as Wi-Fi. Satellite internet is a type of internet connection, while Wi-Fi refers to a wireless network. You can set up a home Wi-Fi network with your satellite internet connection, which will allow you to use the internet on a laptop, phone, tablet, or other wireless internet-connected device.

Satellite internet is reliable most of the time. Heavy rain can interfere with a satellite signal, so satellite internet sometimes goes out during storms.

Yes, a satellite provider can run out of bandwidth in a certain geographical area. This is because all data (ingoing and outgoing) must pass through the satellite serving a particular area. The satellite can process only a certain amount of data at the same time. If additional requests come in, the satellite won’t be able to process everything at once. In practical terms, this means that if too many customers try to add service in a given area, speeds can be slowed to the point that they are no longer functional.

Demand for Viasat has exceeded available bandwidth in some parts of the US, so Viasat does not accept new subscribers in those areas. Once new satellite systems are in place, the available bandwidth will increase and new customers can again start service. For now, the only way to find out if you can get service with Viasat is to contact Viasat’s customer service.