One of the biggest names of Satellite Internet, Hughesnet will be able to offer faster speeds. Many Americans in rural areas rely on satellite internet based on where they live. For many people, especially those in remote rural areas, satellite internet is the only way to get online. Availability is the only advantage for satellite Internet, but customers often have to settle for higher pricing, lower speeds, limited data allowances, and in this case, communication delays between two points, communication delays when sending and receiving data (in comparison to other Internet connection types).
However, Hughesnet hopes to alleviate some of the drawbacks of the satellite internet by introducing a faster speed layer that contains more data. Prices are relatively low, starting at $50-$95 a month, but faster speeds and increased data allow for much better value than previous HughesNet plans. It also has the potential to have low latency enough to support online gaming thanks to Hughesnet’s Fusion technology, which combines satellite internet with low latency fixed wireless connections.
This story is part of Beyond the split of broadbandreporting on how the CNET country is working to make broadband access universal.
The launch of the Jupiter 3, a bus-sized terrain satellite, has enabled these new layers of service. It’s a jump from 25Mbps to 100Mbps, offering up to four times the download speeds of previous standard hughesnet plans. Upload speeds show impressive spikes that go from 3Mbps to 5Mbps. Meanwhile, the data allowance increases from 15GB per month to 100GB to 100GB to 200GB.
No new products will switch from fiber optic connections or cable internet services. But they can make a huge difference in the quality and capabilities of rural internet for people who are out of reach of cable and fiber services. These faster speeds allow rural residents to do more on the internet, such as connecting more devices, streaming TVs in higher quality, and with an increase in data, they can do it online before pressing the data cap.
Hughesnet has a great track record of providing advertised speeds and has earned praise from CNET as the best satellite ISP with reliable speeds. This is an encouraging sign that it will reach newer, faster speed layers. Let’s take a look at these plans.
New Hughesnet plans and prices
| Plan | Starts every month | Maximum download speed | Maximum upload speed | Priority data | Equipment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select | $50 ($75 in 12 months) | 50Mbps | 5Mbps | 100GB | Purchase fee of $15 or $300 per month |
| elite | $65 ($90 in 12 months) | 100Mbps | 5Mbps | 200GB | Purchase fee of $15 or $300 per month |
| fusion | $95 ($120 in 12 months) | 100Mbps | 5Mbps | 200GB | Purchase fees of $20 or $450 per month |
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Source: Hughes Network Systems.
Why are there differences in price when Elite and Fusion advertise the same speed and data?
Selection and Elite Plans use satellite-only connections. The time that a modem requires to communicate with a satellite (latency) can affect browsing, streaming, and video conferencing while online gaming is virtually impossible.
Meanwhile, the fusion plan communicates with the local fixed wireless tower and creates a satellite/fixed wireless hybrid service. The maximum speed and data are the same, but the latency is low and seems low enough to support online gaming.
So the main advantage of fusion plans, and why it costs a little more, is that it reduces the distance the technology has to travel, bringing a better experience in many applications and enabling online gaming.
The counting speed increases
The upload speed jump for the new HughesNet Satellite Internet products is not particularly impressive, but it should be noted that typical households use much more download speed compared to upload speed.
Download Speed determines how fast data can be downloaded, such as increasing the latest iPhone reviews, browsing social media, streaming TV and music. Upload speeds work when sending information to the Internet, such as posting to social media or hopping to video calls (but both activities require an upload speed of less than 3Mbps).
So it makes sense that the download speed will be a greater boost while the upload speed is relatively unchanged. It’s a welcome improvement to increase from 25Mbps to 50Mbps or 100Mbps because we use the internet the most.
Again, 100Mbps is not remarkably faster, especially compared to the new waves of multi-gigabit plans, which offer speeds up to 10,000Mbps or more, but the once wise person has pointed out that speeds are relative. For people in rural areas where DSL speeds and satellite speeds are painfully slow, 100Mbps can unlock new ways to use connections.
Upgrading from 25Mbps to 100Mbps can mean standard definitions or the difference between streaming HD and streaming 4K image quality. Also, faster speeds allow you to add more smart devices to your network, such as streaming sticks, security cameras, and new Alexa speakers, without compromising the connection quality of other devices.
Fast speeds require more data
Let’s say you put a new speed in your test and switch the quality of Netflix streaming from standard to high resolution. The stream has now gone from 3GB of data per hour to 3GB. Recognizing the larger data needs associated with faster speeds, HughesNet has increased its monthly priority data allowance to accommodate the increased new internet activity that faster speeds allow.
The Hughesnet stage offers 100GB or 200GB of data per month compared to the 15GB to 100GB limit of past plans, which is considerable data, but many households may reach that limit and exceed that limit. Average monthly usage About 652GB.
If you exceed the allowance of your preferred data, no additional fees will be added – the Fusenet plan is still unlimited and still unlimited – but using standard unlimited data can slow down the remaining billing cycle. If you can’t handle slower speeds, additional data “tokens” can be purchased for $3 to $50 for blocks of 2GB to 50GB.
A new internet before the new year?
Hughesnet introduced a new plan in early 2024. Available speeds and access to Hughesnet’s Fusion services vary by location. Existing HughesNet customers may be eligible to upgrade plans, but changes to services include the performance of a new 12-month agreement or current term agreement.
Read the full review of HughesNet and find out more about its satellite home internet services. See availability in your area. You can go up the page and discover plans and providers that are available near you, including HughesNet.
