Your Guide to High-Speed Rural Internet Solutions

Latency is the measurement of time it takes for data to travel between a user’s endpoint (your computer or phone) to a destination on the internet (website, streaming service, online game). It’s measured in milliseconds.

Latency is relevant to rural internet users because most solutions, such as satellite and fixed-wireless, tend to have higher-than-average latency, making them seem slower and less responsive.

When shopping for an internet provider, look for solutions and plans with low latency.

Heavy weather can interfere with satellite and wireless internet solutions. Rain, snow, or heavy cloud cover weakens signals, but technology is improving to prevent complete outages.

Geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite services utilize a handful of satellites in high orbit to deliver an internet signal to a wide area. However, this technology suffers from high latency internet due to the distance data must travel.

There are thousands of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. They orbit much closer to the planet, so they have less broadcast range, but they make up for this with their numbers. They also have lower latency, making for a more responsive internet signal. Learn more about how satellite internet works.

Most rural internet providers either lease equipment or include it in the cost of your plan.

There are a few exceptions in which providers give you the option to purchase equipment outright or require it. An example is Starlink, which has a rental option in certain places, but typically sells its dishes and routers for up to $349.

The only nationwide program currently available is Lifeline. It’s a federal program that gives qualifying households up to a $9.25 discount on their monthly internet subscription from select providers.

Households on Tribal lands can qualify for a $34.95 discount. Learn more about qualifications here.

Some states and individual providers offer programs for low-income households, so when shopping, be sure to ask whether any are available and how to qualify.

Fortunately, it doesn’t require that much speed to stream on most platforms. We recommend at least 40Mbps for HD video streaming, especially if you have a household with multiple people streaming.

The optimal speed is at least 100Mbps if you want 4K streaming and multiple devices in the home using the internet. Also, look for low-latency internet to avoid constant streaming buffering.