How Viasat Beats the Competition
Table of Contents
The Satellite Internet Race
Satellite internet in the U.S. is dominated by three major providers: Viasat, HughesNet, and newcomer Starlink. These satellite internet providers are locked in a fierce competition to offer the best service to rural and remote areas across the United States and Canada. Viasat has led the industry for years by providing higher speeds, greater reliability, and better value than its major competitors.
The Advantages of Satellite Internet
For households beyond the reach of cable or fiber optic networks, satellite is often the only way to get high-speed internet. Satellite internet offers wider availability than any other form of internet connectivity. Viasat, HughesNet, and Starlink make rural internet access possible for those in farms and cabins, remote businesses – anywhere with a clear view of the southern sky.
Satellite internet also provides a critical backup connection during severe weather events or infrastructure failures that can knock out wired services for days or weeks. The military relies on satellite networks that stay operational even in the worst conditions.
About Viasat
Viasat is a pioneer in satellite communications and has been providing satellite internet since the 1990s. The company has launched a series of advanced high-capacity satellites to continuously improve speed, reliability and data allowances for customers. Viasat now offers download speeds up to 100 Mbps in select areas.
Key Factors Where Viasat Excels
Speed – Viasat frequently offers faster download speeds than competing satellite providers, and faster than DSL in many cases. The newest Viasat plans reach up to 100 Mbps. Upload speeds are consistent at 3 Mbps, the FCC standard for broadband speed.
Data limits – All Viasat plans come with Unlimited Standard Data. The monthly data allowance for high-speed usage ranges from 60GB up to a massive 500GB. Viasat does not use hard data caps that cause overage charges.
Reliability – The Viasat network is designed to remain online 24/7. Military-grade encryption protects transmissions. Viasat’s reliability record is over 99.9% uptime.
Value – Viasat offers competitive pricing on all speed tiers and offers more speed per dollar than its major competitors.
Speed and Reliability for Viasat
Viasat customers enjoy fast, steady internet powered by an advanced satellite fleet and networking infrastructure. While satellite internet has higher latency than wired connections, Viasat minimizes lag time through technological innovations like accelerated UDP protocols.
Severe weather can temporarily disrupt any satellite internet provider. But brief rain fade with Viasat lasts only as long as the storm system passes overhead.
Where is Viasat Coverage?
A key advantage of satellite internet is availability. Viasat offers coverage across all 50 U.S. states plus Canada. Even the most remote household or business can get Viasat if there’s a clear view of the southern sky. Viasat can cover over 99% of the population in the United States.
Viasat Pricing and Packages
Viasat provides a range of speed and data packages to suit any budget. Pricing is competitive with plans starting around $50 per month. There are no contracts required, and Unlimited Standard Data means no overage charges.
Special plans for businesses and work-from-home customers give flexible data usage for common work applications and virtual private network access. Viasat Office Hours is a program unlike any other satellite ISP offering. Through Office Hours, any data you use through a standard business app during regular business hours in your time zone does not count against your high-speed data usage. This “free data” feature is a game-changer for remote workers.
Viasat Customer Service Experience
Viasat aims to provide caring customer service through multiple contact channels. Customers can get assistance via live chat, phone support, and an online knowledge base available 24/7.
For an additional monthly fee, Viasat EasyCare provides a dedicated phone support line, protection from dish damage, and free service calls from a technician.
Innovation and Upgrades
Viasat constantly improves its network – launching new satellites, expanding ground stations, and upgrading transmission equipment.
These continuous upgrades allow Viasat to stay ahead of competitors by increasing speeds, coverage areas, and reliability for customers.
Viasat vs. HughesNet
While HughesNet is still a major satellite internet provider, its network technology lags behind Viasat. HughesNet offers maximum download speeds of just 25 Mbps compared to Viasat’s 100 Mbps.
HughesNet data plans top out at 200 GB per month while Viasat offers plans up to 500 GB of high-speed data. When comparing packages with similar data limits, Viasat nearly always provides faster speeds for the same monthly price.
Viasat vs. Starlink
The Starlink satellite network from SpaceX shows promise but is still in development. Starlink speeds can rival Viasat, but coverage is very limited. There are long wait lists for Starlink service in many regions.
Viasat maintains wider availability today and has a longstanding reputation for reliability. Starlink has struggled with its startup operations and is still dealing with supply chain delays at times. In addition, Starlink uses LEO satellites in large numbers, which has caused concerns from both NASA about interference with astronomy. Those concerned with environmental impact should be aware that the risks of space junk and pollution are far higher with Starlink’s projected armies of low-orbit satellites.
Viasat: Leading the Industry in Satellite Internet
For rural households across North America, Viasat satellite internet is an essential lifeline to stay connected. Viasat continuously improves its networks to stay at the forefront of the satellite internet industry. With outstanding speeds, generous data allowances, strong customer service and competitive pricing, Viasat dominates the competition.
FAQs: Why Viasat is the Best Satellite Internet Provider
Is Viasat suitable for online gaming?
Viasat can support online gaming but the experience depends on the game type. Real-time multiplayer games need low latency and will not perform well. For single player games, turn-taking games, or casual games, Viasat works fine.
How does Viasat’s pricing compare to its competitors?
Viasat offers very competitive pricing on par or below major rivals like HughesNet and Starlink. Viasat plans give you more high-speed data allowance than competitors for the monthly fee.
Does weather affect Viasat’s connectivity?
Heavy rain or snow can cause brief service interruptions known as “rain fade" but this is temporary. Viasat satellites quickly start delivering the signal again once the weather system passes.
How does Viasat ensure data privacy?
Viasat uses advanced encryption methods and carefully controls network access to safeguard customer data. Privacy is protected through technologies like VPN tunneling, firewalls, and multi-factor authentication for optimal cybersecurity.
