All three providers can keep you in communication with the web, allowing you to email, use chat clients like Slack and Discord, and make phone calls—to an extent. Hughesnet and Viasat's high latency means there will be minor delays in sending text messages, making instant chat less instant. Customers using VoiP apps like Skype have experienced noticeable delays in conversations, but they’re still usable. Starlink’s low latency clears those problems up but is an expensive solution for basic communication.
Using satellite internet to stream your favorite movies and shows is complicated. It’s not recommended you stream using Hughesnet due to the limited data allotment, which will quickly get eaten up. Many Hughesnet customers opt to download movies during the nighttime hours when bonus data is available or subscribe to a satellite TV provider. Viasat offers nearly unlimited data so you shouldn’t have to worry about that, but the high latency will result in long buffering times. Streaming in the lowest quality or downloading the HD version is recommended to avoid buffering. Starlink’s high speeds and low latency will make for a better streaming experience overall.
Gaming online is a challenge for satellite internet customers. The three big providers feature adequate download speeds, but latency and data consumption are more important for online gaming. Hughesnet and Viasat’s latency is too high to be effective at online gaming, especially for fast-paced action games where responsive input is essential. Plus, with Hughesnet’s priority data cap, you’ll quickly run through your monthly allotment.
Starlink is the only viable solution for gaming over satellite internet. With unlimited data and much lower latency, it’s better to stay competitive with little to no lag. We’ve spoken to Satellite customers who say gaming online wasn’t possible until they switched to Starlink.
Options are limited, but getting high-speed internet through satellite is possible whether you’re traveling with a tent, van, or RV. Currently, Starlink is the only satellite provider that allows you to take in on the go if you’re on a Mobile plan. Regional Mobile will enable you to connect anywhere within a country or region for $150 per month, while Global Mobile lets you globetrot with your Starlink for $200. Speeds are slower than the standard residential plan, but still strong enough to suit any of your internet needs on the go. Besides Starlink, there are more ways to get online while traveling, including mobile hotspot plans and 5G fixed-wireless internet.
Like RVs, Starlink is the only satellite internet service with plans specifically for boats. Starlink Mobile will work on any schooner, yacht, or dinghy—as long as you’re stationary. However, the whole point of having a boat is to sail into the distance, so if you need to stay connected while moving, you’ll need the Flat High-Performance Starlink, which costs $2,500. Mobile Priority gives you the highest speeds available from anywhere, making it helpful in navigating any body of water while the family can stream movies and music.
All three providers work with enterprises for commercial service but offer internet solutions aimed at small businesses in rural settings, albeit with the same speeds, data, and terms as their home plans. Hughesnet and Viasat’s plans provide 24/7 support and priority bandwidth for business customers. Video chat is doable, but usually in the lowest definition, and you’ll probably appear laggy to everyone else on the call. Starlink is the exception where you’ll see improved voice and video quality, but it’s an expensive solution.
Hughesnet and Viasat also offer backup internet plans for businesses that can’t afford to be offline when their primary provider has an outage. These are affordable plans that offer minimal but stable business continuity.
Starlink doesn’t offer a specific small business plan but recommends using its Priority plans for businesses. These plans provide top speeds and give customers priority in its support ticket system.
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