For rural areas that have not been connected to cable/fiber optic internet, satellite internet has been the only way to go online for many years. Currently, the two prominent providers of satellite internet are HughesNet and the relatively newer company, Starlink. However, which of these services provides higher speeds of the Internet?
What is HughesNet?
Provider of satellite connections, HughesNet has been offering its goods since 2012. They use numerous geostationary satellites positioned around 22,000 miles above the surface of the planet. These satellites stay motionless in orbit; so, a satellite dish allows the clients to quickly establish communication with them and eliminates the need for constant movement to track the satellites.
Plans available from HughesNet let the consumer download on the top tier at 25 Mbps. But because Sims often accompanies a restricted bandwidth capacity that greatly slows down after the limit is reached and has a high latency that could reach 900 ms, the real performance and user experience might be very poor. HughesNet also has certain restrictions you should take into account, such as the firm forbids its customers from canceling any without a two-year commitment.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is a satellite Internet service operated by SpaceX – its fleet of communications satellites began launching in 2018. Starlink's active satellites are now over 2,000 low earth orbit satellites at around 340 kilometers up. At such a much lower orbit, the time that it takes for the signals to travel back and forth between the ground and the satellite is significantly reduced.
It continues to launch more Starlink satellites in orbit more frequently, and Musk aims to deploy more than 40,000 of them. Starlink is currently operational in select regions but is taking pre-orders for other markets. It does not have a contract, meaning customers can opt for a monthly plan instead of an annual one.
Starlink offers between 80 and 200 megabits per second in download speed. Although data is still nominally unlimited, for example, if the cell that you are connected to is congested, you may be throttled during peak times.
Before and after, we shall compare the internet speeds of HughesNet and Starlink.
When comparing HughesNet and Starlink, Starlink provides faster service overall: When comparing HughesNet and Starlink, Starlink provides faster service overall:
- Download speeds: Starlink is much faster and has download speeds 3-8 times faster than the best HughesNet plan available. Starlink can offer a level of speed that is similar to broadband cable internet, with 200 Mbps downloads.
- Upload speeds: For uploads, HughesNet restricts the speed from 3-5 Mbps which is very low compared to today’s internet speeds. Starlink communication offers up to 20 Mbps download speeds.
- Latency: HughesNet latency can be a real problem in undertaking even simple operations such as video calls, games, and internet browsing. The latency of Starlink is somewhere between 20-40 ms which is quite comparable to the latency that cable internet provides.
- Data caps/congestion: Even with these Internet service providers, they are known to limit the overall broadband mostly during peak traffic hours or to the largest users. HughesNet has relatively low data allowances in which they charge more for extra usage or provide extremely slow connections akin to 2G.
Real-World Performance
The analysis of real-world use of Starlink has revealed that it offers higher speed and better reliability of internet connection. Its lower orbit, broadening of the BSkyB network, and absence of strict usage limits do not allow for such speed flaws typical to satellite services as those of HughesNet.
Some internet service providers may advertise, for instance, a top speed of 200 Mbps when tests show that actual users attain between 50 and 150 Mbps when actively using the connection. Still, that is much faster than HughesNet, which continues to dominate the satellite Internet market. Starlink speeds are indeed generally slower and more variable compared to wired broadband on average but they do not remain slower and more variable for as long as these measures suggest.
HughesNet service quality has been relatively poor for clients who use a lot of data. This means, that light internet users may get those 25 Mbps speeds sometimes but during congestion is well likely to be during peak hours. Consumers using many gigabytes get charged extra or barely receive a higher speed if they go over puny data limits.
Overall, Starlink provides the average household with internet usability that is on par with mid-tier cable internet while HughesNet continues to struggle with the inherent disadvantages of satellite-internet technology. For those who had no access to traditional wired broadband providers, Starlink signifies a giant leap forward. HughesNet retains a mainly crucial edge largely in accessibility until Starlink leaves Beta.
Considerations Beyond Speed
There are a few other considerations beyond speed alone when choosing between these two satellite internet providers:
- Cost – Starlink plans refer to the $110 monthly plans that are charged. HughesNet’s plans cost $60-$150 monthly, but the long-term expenses are higher due to the mandatory equipment rental and contract agreements.
- Geographical reach – HughesNet has its service offering available across most regions of North America. Starlink is still in the testing phase with a certain geographic coverage mainly targeting regions at higher altitudes, the expansion of which is currently underway.
- Hardware/installation - Both have the same equipment where a satellite dish and modem/router are required to install. HughesNet usually coordinates the installation with the partners while with Starlink, the customer may set up the system independently.
Satellite reliability has a part dependency on weather and this can define the extent to which a satellite will produce a reliable signal. Starlink has more satellites and superior software algorithms which means it always has continuous connectivity until it is fully occluded.
Data caps – Another disadvantage of HughesNet is that this internet service provider has low data-caps which limits the usage in large amounts. Starlink is limited in its speed during congestion but allows the user unlimited high-speed data usage once again.
Conclusion
When comparing the fastest and most accessible satellite internet solutions for consumers residing in rural areas, Starlink technology, which is relatively new, offers higher speeds and a better customer experience than HughesNet, which has been around for years. While it’s true that HughesNet’s waitlist is long and $110 per month might be steep for some, steady 50-150 Mbps downloads from Starlink are indeed as good as what cable can offer.
