Working from Home is Possible with Hughesnet
Telecommuting is gaining traction as a workplace environment, and opportunities for remote work continue to expand. However, internet access is essential for any home working, and it is always necessary to have a fast and stable connection. Hughesnet can be considered one of the most renowned satellite internet services, especially for places with a weak connection. However, can Hughesnet be relied on if working from home is inevitable? Here are the key factors to consider:
Speed
In terms of the plan that is chosen, Hughesnet provides download speeds ranging from 1 Mbps to 25 Mbps. This may be good enough for simple tasks such as web surfing and checking emails; however, the speeds can be very unpredictable during high traffic hours which are between 3 PM-2 AM as more customers come online. In instances where VPN access, video and voice conferences, file uploads and downloads, or using multiple devices are needed for work, Hughesnet speeds may not provide a reliable connection. This is mainly because too many break times which may include buffering and lagging can reduce productivity.
Data Caps
Hughesnet’s plans are costly, but they are limited to DATA usage with DATA caps ranging from 10GB to 50GB only. When you are a little bit over your data limit, speeds are reduced to as low as 1 to 3Mbps, which makes working impossible. This is because, on the internet, people are likely to spend more time on work-related web meetings, cloud computing applications, remote system access, and file transfers that demand higher bandwidths than the Hughesnet data allowances. The internet being reduced to a slower speed halfway through the month will affect your performance while working from home.
Latency
Hughesnet is a geosynchronous satellite internet service provider, and this comes with a considerably higher latency period of data transmission as compared to cable or fiber internet. Hughesnet usually has a latency that can go as high as 600ms to 900ms while high-speed networks have less than 100ms. This delay creates significant latencies, voice/video communication disruptions, application latency, and other problems that are detrimental to real-time work, online transactions, VPN access, video conferences, and any other work requiring timely results.
Reliability
Any storms or heavy winds can sometimes disrupt Hughesnet's service or at least result in poor connectivity as it involves sending signals between satellite equipment and satellites above the earth’s surface. Weather-related blackouts can delay important work, thus increasing risks associated with business interruptions. Other common issues that might impair reliability include hills, trees, and other barriers. Hughesnet claims to have made it available at 99. 9% but the real-world experience as a user reduces the rates.
Cost
Hughesnet has relatively expensive plans with the cheapest option going for $60 per month for 10GB data while the most expensive option goes for $150 per month for 50GB data. This means that the actual speeds and data that you will achieve using the service are likely to be lower than the marketed rates. Moreover, the additional charges are very steep especially if you surpass your monthly data allowance whereby charging $10 for every additional 1GB. Indeed, in terms of value for the monthly fee, cable/fiber high-speed internet plans can offer similar or even better in the form of higher & unlimited data for the same price as the competitive Hughesnet metered/capped plans.
Verdict
Even though Hughesnet offers essential internet access to individuals who have no other options, this service is unacceptably slow, limited, unreliable, and costly compared to utilizing it for business purposes or remote employment. Lagging, sharp reductions in speed when data limits are met, vulnerability to weather affecting driving, high latency, and expensive additional costs make it impossible for employees to reliably do their jobs. They are useful for any professional purposes and cable/fiber networks are more effective than satellite internet providers. If Hughesnet is the only available connection, then yes, they may provide some level of functionality for adequate work-from-home capability; however, the negatives most likely outweigh any positives here. Using this approach, one should assess the usage requirements in advance and consult with different providers if possible.
