High Speed Satellite Internet Service – What you Should Know

If you live in a rural area of the country you may not be able to get high speed cable or DSL (direct subscriber line) Internet service. However, you can still get a high speed Internet connection with satellite Internet service.

Satellite Internet Service Features

* Satellite Internet service is up to 50 times faster than 56K dialup service. That means you can flip through web pages like turning pages in a book, and download files in seconds instead of minutes or hours.

* Satellite Internet service does not operate through your phone line, so you can surf the 'net and talk on the phone at the same time. And you won't miss important phone calls when you're online.

* Your Internet connection is always on so you won't have to wait to log on to the Internet.

* Most providers give you a full array of Internet security software so you won't have to worry about destructive viruses and malicious spyware.


Satellite Internet Service Providers

There are four major satellite Internet providers in the U.S. - HughesNet, WildBlue, Skyway, and Starband. Here's a comparison based on their 1Mbps service plans:

HughesNet

HughesNet is the oldest and the largest satellite Internet provider, with more than 400,000 customers. They have a variety of plans with speeds up to 5Mbps - 50 times faster than dialup. The price for their 1 Mbps service is $59.99 per month, installation is free, and they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee

WildBlue

Wildblue is the second oldest and second largest provider, with 340,000 customers. They, too, have a variety of plans with speed up to 1.5 Mbps - 30 times faster than dialup. The price for their 1 Mbps service is $69.99 per month, installation is free, and there's a $99 activation fee.

Skyway

Skyway uses a one-way transmission system which makes their download speeds slow because they use dialup access for downloads. The price for their 1 Mbps plan is $59.99 per month, installation is $100, and their equipment costs $49.

Starband

Starband was founded in 2000 and services the U.S., Canada, and a number of Caribbean islands. The price for their 1 Mbps plan is $69.99 per month and professional installation is required (prices vary).


Visit http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com/satellite-tv-internet-service.htm or click on the following link for more information on satellite internet providers, plus where to get the best deal on satellite Internet service. You can also see a Satellite vs. Dialup comparison chart and order satellite Internet service online.

The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written extensively on satellite Internet service.