Like
- Reliable, consistent broadband speeds in all service areas
- HughesNet Bonus Zone provides an extra 50GB of data a month during off hours
- No hard data caps
Don’t Like
- Two-year contract, with early termination fees if you cancel
- “Unlimited” data is misleading — HughesNet will impose severe speed reductions once you hit your data plan’s threshold
- High equipment costs
In this article
Hughes Network Systems was the first satellite internet service to offer broadband speeds of 25 megabits per second in 2017. Since then, a lot has changed, and I’m not just talking about Elon Musk’s efforts to disrupt the satellite internet category.
More than anything, the pandemic affirmed our collective dependence on internet connections — and it made the lack of access for so many in rural America painfully clear, too. The federal government has been aiming to help with that. In the meantime, satellite internet service might be the only option for getting online where internet infrastructure falls short.
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Satellite internet is faster than phone-line-based DSL, but it can’t compete with the speeds you get with cable or fiber connections. That said, ground-laid cable and fiber aren’t readily available to people outside densely populated areas. Even with speeds that fall well short of cable or fiber, established satellite providers such as HughesNet, which can genuinely claim to offer service everywhere, are more relevant than ever.
With wide availability across all 50 states, HughesNet is an excellent connection option for rural residents. It’s not as fast as Viasat, which offers satellite internet plans with download speeds of up to 100Mbps in some areas. Still, HughesNet has a better track record with outages on Downdetector.com. And unlike Viasat, it offers the same broadband speeds to all customers in all regions. If you need speed, you might want to keep looking, but HughesNet could fit the bill if a reliable connection is paramount and you’re in an area where you can’t get cable or fiber. Let’s dig in and take a look at the details.
HughesNet’s coverage map spreads across the country, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
FCC/Mapbox
HughesNet plans and prices
HughesNet keeps things pretty simple. No matter which plan you choose, you will get download speeds of 25Mbps and upload speeds of 3Mbps. Promotional rates may also be available based on where you live. New customers can save up to $50 monthly for the first six months of a two-year contract. Equipment can be leased for $15 per month with a $99 lease setup fee, or you can buy it upfront for $450 (including installation).
What varies from plan to plan is your monthly data allowance. The more you pay each month, the more data you get each month. Here’s the current breakdown:
HughesNet satellite internet plans
| Plan | Max speeds | Monthly promo cost | Monthly cost (after 6 months) | Contract terms | Monthly equipment costs | Data allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HughesNet Gen5 | 25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload | $65 | $65 | Two years | $15 a month or $450 one-time purchase | 15GB |
| HughesNet Gen5 | 25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload | $50 | $75 | Two years | $15 a month or $450 one-time purchase | 30GB |
| HughesNet Gen5 | 25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload | $75 | $100 | Two years | $15 a month or $450 one-time purchase | 50GB |
| HughesNet Gen5 | 25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload | $125 | $175 | Two years | $15 a month or $450 one-time purchase | 100GB |
No matter the data allowance, all HughesNet Gen5 plans offer all customers the same max download speeds. That consistency of service and speed reliability is a huge plus, and it sets HughesNet apart from providers whose speeds might vary from location to location. In fact, the 2018 Federal Communications Commission report on broadband highlighted that HughesNet did the best among participating providers regarding actual versus advertised speeds, with median speeds that were 150% or higher than the advertised speed.
As for value, HughesNet is slightly cheaper than its main rival, Viasat. With that competitor, you’ll need to pay $100 per month to match HughesNet’s 25Mbps download speed, and that monthly price will go up to $150 after just three months. However, that Viasat plan also comes with a 60GB data cap, twice as much data as the $50-per-month HughesNet plan allows. On top of that, in some regions, Viasat also offers faster plans than HughesNet, including download speeds of up to 100Mbps, which would make its cost per megabit cheaper than HughesNet.
No data cap, but data is far from unlimited
While HughesNet touts its “unlimited data,” that’s a bit of a misnomer. Yes, there are no hard data limits, so you won’t be cut off or charged more if you go over your monthly data allowance. That’s a huge relief as you try to plot out your monthly budget.
However, you can expect severe slowdowns once you hit that monthly data cap. HughesNet will cut your download speeds from 25Mbps down to 1 to 3Mbps for the remainder of the month. Keep that in mind as you consider which data plan to select.
For example, you might be tempted to go with the cheapest plan, which HughesNet recommends as “perfect for the single user or couple who is passionate about fast internet.” But that plan comes with 15GB of data, which can be pretty limiting. How limiting? Netflix estimates it takes approximately 1GB to stream an hour-long show in standard definition and 3GB to stream an hour in high definition. Even at Netflix’s lowest data setting (0.3GB per hour), it wouldn’t be much of a challenge to blow through that 15GB cap in a week or two.
This is where the HughesNet Bonus Zone, available as part of all plans, comes into play. During the off-peak hours of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., customers receive an additional 50GB of data per month. Depending on your chosen plan, this could more than double your data allotment, and it might help you bridge the gap between your typical usage and your plan’s ceiling. Granted, it’s not the most convenient time, but with some planning, you could schedule a movie download or some other activity to take advantage of the extra data.
Additional details to know about HughesNet
HughesNet’s satellite internet service is relatively straightforward, but you’ll want to understand everything that’ll show up on your bill before signing up. Here’s a quick rundown.
One-time installation fee
HughesNet charges $99 for standard installation, though this fee is waived if you decide to plunk down $450 to buy your modem instead of renting it. There is no self-installation option like you might find with other internet connection types. A standard installation includes a technician visit, HughesNet satellite dish, and Wi-Fi modem setup. As a limited-time offer, HughesNet is offering free standard installation if you order online.
Additional monthly equipment fee
You will not be able to use your own modem with HughesNet Gen5 plans. To lease the HughesNet Wi-Fi Modem, which doubles as a Wi-Fi router, you will need to add $15 a month to your bill. While this is the most popular option for customers, you can avoid this monthly charge altogether by buying the equipment for a one-time fee of $450, including the standard installation charge.
That’s still a very hefty price, but it might be worth considering if you plan on sticking with HughesNet for the long term. Compared with paying $15 per month in perpetuity, you’ll break even in under two years by paying that one-time, upfront expense of $350 (remember, the $450 figure includes installation, which typically costs an extra $99). If you plan on keeping your HughesNet connection any longer, paying upfront is the less expensive proposition.
Potential early termination fee
That two-year break-even rate on the modem purchase probably isn’t an accident, as all HughesNet plans require a two-year contract. Cancel before the contract is up, and you’ll incur an early termination fee as high as $400 if you’re still within the first 90 days of service. The amount decreases by $15 a month after that, which means you’d still need to pay a fee of $100 if you cancel during the last month of your contract.
Affordable Connectivity Program availability
HughesNet participates in the ACP, a Federal Communications Commissions program to assist low-income families. Eligible households will receive a discount of up to $30 per month (up to $75 per month for qualifying tribal lands) toward internet service. This program is available to both new and existing customers facing financial hardships.
The ACSI didn’t include specific scores for satellite internet providers like HughesNet in 2022.
American Customer Satisfaction Index
HughesNet has work to do on the customer satisfaction side
The American Customer Satisfaction Index didn’t include separate scores for satellite providers like HughesNet and Viasat in 2022. Still, those rankings factored into the ACSI’s overall aggregate score for internet providers — and that score dropped from the previous year. That’s not good, but it’s hard to read too much into that for HughesNet specifically.
Elsewhere, the 2021 J.D. Power US Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study was much more telling, with HughesNet earning 578 on a 1,000-point scale in the South region. That’s below average for the area, 42 points lower than HughesNet scored in 2020, and made for a last-place finish compared with 10 other ISPs in the study. The final dagger? It was the lowest score of any ISP listed in the J.D. Power satisfaction study.
“We’ve been working diligently to support the needs of our customers,” Hughes Senior Vice President Mark Wymer said when we asked about that ranking. “We’re constantly trying to improve, but I also think we’re providing a strong service and score very well with the FCC in terms of the service levels we’re providing.
“What we really focus on is the underserved areas of the US and bringing those customers a high-speed experience,” Wymer said. “So for those who choose to live in those less densely populated areas, we want to be their primary choice.”
What’s the bottom line on HughesNet?
If you live in a highly populated urban or suburban area, you’ll likely have other, faster internet connection choices, and HughesNet isn’t for you. But if you reside in a rural or less densely populated area without many options for getting online, HughesNet might be the best and most reliable connection available. It may not be the fastest satellite provider out there, but its commitment to supporting broadband speeds to all serviceability areas makes it a compelling pick under those circumstances.
HughesNet satellite internet FAQs
What is the HughesNet Bonus Zone?
The HughesNet Bonus Zone describes the window of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. each day when customers can access an additional 50GB of data per month. While these off-peak hours might not seem convenient, they present a great time to schedule a movie download, set up system updates for your devices or maybe even do some early-morning online shopping.
Is HughesNet’s internet service fast?
The HughesNet Gen5 plans all meet the FCC’s definition of broadband speed — 25Mbps download, 3Mbps upload. While you can make the case that this baseline qualification as broadband speed doesn’t qualify as “fast,” it is undoubtedly faster than the DSL plans that might also be available to rural customers.
Can I game with HughesNet Gen5?
It’s not recommended. One of the challenges with satellite internet service as a connection type is the high latency. Latency describes the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another — and with satellite internet, that data has to travel into space and back. That makes it tough to keep up in certain online games, especially shooters and other games where quick reflexes and real-time decision-making are critical.
To combat that high latency, HughesNet is introducing a new service called HughesNet Fusion, which is currently only available in select areas. It’s not any faster than the Gen5 plans, but it uses a combination of satellite and wireless technology to make activities like online gaming and VPN usage more feasible.
How about watching my favorite movies in HD?
Yes, but it’s not automatic. The HughesNet service automatically streams videos at 480p to help you save your data, but you can change this setting pretty easily via the HughesNet mobile app.
Will HughesNet speeds get faster in the future?
On the horizon for Hughes is its Jupiter 3 satellite launch, currently scheduled to blast off in 2023. The company tells CNET that consumers should expect to see new offerings made available after that satellite makes it into orbit, including plans that support download speeds of up to 100Mbps.
“This will be one of the largest satellites to be launched and will basically double the size of our network,” Wymer said. “The satellite industry continues to innovate and move forward, so it’s an exciting time.”
HughesNet Satellite Internet Review: Upholding Dependability Over Speed – CNET
Source: Media Star Philippines
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