A comparison of the top satellite Internet service providers will reveal that there are two major suppliers of satellite Internet in the United States. Satellite service is great for those living in rural areas without cable or DSL access. Satellite provides high-speed satellite Internet service that is comparable to other providers. Satellite Internet service gives you high-speed broadband Internet capabilities. After having a satellite dish installed on your home or office, you can begin using the Internet immediately.

WildBlue Broadband Satellite is one of the major satellite providers in the U.S. Internet access through this company works via satellite, and no dial-up is required. It has download speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds to 256 Kbps, which is approximately 30 times faster than dial-up speeds. It is available everywhere in the U.S. and required professional installation which takes around two to three hours. Although WildBlue Broadband Satellite provides fast service, real-time games and Internet phone services may not work well due to the fact that signals must be transferred back and forth between the user’s home or office to WildBlue, then back to the customer rather than direct connections that bypass satellite.

This company has several packages available on a monthly basis. There is also a one-time activation fee of $149.95. Installation is free, and if you decide to cancel before your 24 month contract expires, you will need to pay $15 for each month left on the contract. The various plans depend on how many computers will use the satellite service in your home or office at the same time and how fast you want your speed to be. The Economical Value Package is $49.95 per month in basic charges, and the next plan costs $69.95 per month. The Pro Package is $79.95 per month and is designed for more than one computer being used at the same time. It is good for downloading videos, music or for sending or receiving large files.

HughesNet is the other major satellite provider in the U.S. with several plan options. Because there are a few remote or mountain areas in the U.S. that lack broadband Internet, the U.S. Recovery Act provides rebates for customers who have satellite Internet installed in their homes. HughesNet offers the option of either purchasing the equipment or leasing it. The equipment costs around $400 to buy with rebates of up to half that amount available for qualified buyers, and leasing costs $99 per year. Both of these options also require monthly service plans at a 24-month contract price ranging from $59.99 to $119.99 per month.

HughesNet also states that approximately three percent of their customers will not be able to receive the high speeds that they advertise due to trees or other obstacles that block the signals from the satellite to the HughesNet dish on the house. If there is a clear pathway, speeds can go up to a maximum of 5.0 Mbps with typical speeds of 2.7 Mbps to 3.0 Mbps during peak hours with the top plan – the Elite Premium Plan. Upload speeds can be up to 300 Kbps, but are typically 165 to 180 Kbps during peak hours. There are download limits with HughesNet, and with this plan they are up to 500MB per month. Lower plans are the Home Plan which costs $59.99 per month. It provides download speeds of up to 1.0 Mbps with typical speeds of 550 Kbps to 650Kbps during peak times. The download allowance is 200 MB per month. Upload speeds can reach 128 Kbps, but typical speeds of 70 Kbps to 80Kbps are to be expected during peak hours.