HughesNet is one of the leading satellite internet services in the United States, which delivers internet through satellite technology in geographically situated rural and isolated regions where cable and fiber optic connections are not accessible. Some of the questions that consumers may be asking include – how much does HughesNet cost for its unlimited data plan? More information on HughesNet’s packages will include their unlimited data options as well as the cost related to the same.
What is HughesNet?
HughesNet is an internet service provider that uses a constellation of satellites in geostationary orbit to supply internet access. Satellite internet does not necessarily require infrastructure that is set on the ground like cable or DSL hence it can support users even in remote areas. HughesNet is a company that has serviced over one million customers in the Americas.
This company comes with several service offering options, with the download rates starting at 25 Mbps up to 50 Mbps. The degree of speed that is offered depends on the place that you are in. Daytime data is provided with all the options, however unused night data is available only with some of the selected tariffs.
HughesNet Unlimited Data Plans
HughesNet offers two unlimited data plans:
1. It includes unlimited Internet and wireless broadband with a high speed of 50 Mbps.
This plan offers 50Mbps download speed and 3Mpbs upload speed. It has included the 50 GB daytime usage that will enable users to access 50 GB high-speed data usage during a given month within the daytime between 8 am and 2 am. Midnight and early morning: Apparently, the night has been deemed limitless high-speed usage time, particularly between 2 AM and 8 AM. This plan is the simplest of packages offered by HughesNet and comes with an unlimited internet offer.
2. Unlimited Data Plan 25 Mbps
This comes as a lower speed plan, providing 25/3 Mbps downloads and uploads. It has a daily usage limit of 50GB for data usage during the day. Unlimited data usage applies to the nighttime, that is, from 2 am to 8 am, the same as with the 50 Mbps plan. This is another plan from HughesNet and it is more expensive than the previous plan but it offers unlimited data usage.
Both of these plans provide you with unlimited high-speed use of the internet during your night satellite lease. When it comes to the daytime hours, your speeds will be slowed down close to 50 GB beyond which your connection speed will drop tremendously.
This question is highly specific, and the answer will depend on the specific HughesNet plan that the customer is interested in purchasing.
The cost of a HughesNet unlimited data plan depends on which option you choose:
Unlimited Data Plan 50 Mbps:
- $149. 99 per month
- 2-year contract required
- $99 activation fee
Unlimited Data Plan 25 Mbps:
- $109. 99 per month
- 2-year contract required
- $99 activation fee
Therefore the plan 50 Mbps unlimited is cheaper at $149. 99 per month compared to the 25 Mbps plan which is $109. 99 per month. The two plans are available with a 2-year service agreement obligatory. Also, there is a one-time standard activation fee of $99 for first-time members of the site.
For clarification, the base price presents the simplest variant of the service without additional options. Some costs are necessary for the purchase of satellite pieces of equipment that would be needed for a HughesNet and these are approximated to be about $300 -$350. It costs $40 per piece of equipment and you can either pay in full or in monthly installments of $10 for three years.
Unlimited Plans Do HughesNet Unlimited Plans Make Sense?
HughesNet Internet service offers its clients unlimited data, and that is good, but is it worth the monthly prices offered? Let's weigh some pros and cons:
Pros:
- Again, the service provider should allow the user to browse the internet without any limitations at night.
- They were initially the Fast 50 Mbps or the Fast 25 Mbps.
- Available virtually everywhere
Cons:
- This means that the daily data quotas are arguably some of the lowest on the market.
- Nighttime-only unlimited data
- Expensive monthly fees
- Long and restrictive leas
- Satellite equipment expenses for existing parts.
Thus, for those who primarily use the internet at night or during the daytime, it can be enough to subscribe to an unlimited HughesNet plan. For households, that use the internet to a moderate to high extent during the day, the daylight-only 50GB data quotas make such plans unfavorable. These decrease to just a few kbps during the day when the data limit is reached, they reduce the usage of the internet to just a few kilobytes per second.
The majority of households require strong all-day data plans at present. Otherwise, the fairly expensive HughesNet unlimited plans do not seem very reasonable when compared to the unlimited plans offered by other providers. They provide much higher daily limits such as 400GB+ for similar prices as Viasat.
In this case, although HughesNet does provide customers with the so much coveted unlimited data plans, they come with several limitations. But in those rural areas where there are no other choices available, HughesNet is still an unlimited data plan. However, users need to know that the car operates only at night to avoid any misunderstandings regarding the contract.
