Future Satellite Internet in 2025: HughesNet and Viasat Face Competition from Starlink
### Performance Comparison: HughesNet, Viasat, and Starlink (Early 2025)
Satellite internet providers HughesNet and Viasat (both using geostationary satellites) find themselves in competition with Starlink (using low Earth orbit, or LEO, satellites), each offering distinct advantages and drawbacks.
### Latency
The lower altitude of Starlink's satellites results in significantly lower latency compared to HughesNet and Viasat. While HughesNet has made strides in reducing latency, dropping from 1,019 milliseconds in early 2022 to 683 milliseconds in 2025, it still lags behind Starlink's 45 milliseconds [1][2].
### Download Speeds
Starlink leads the pack with median download speeds exceeding 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and advertised speeds of up to 300 Mbps, while HughesNet and Viasat have both approximately doubled their speeds since 2022, now offering median downloads around 47–49 Mbps [2]. Both GEO providers' advertised maximums are significantly lower than Starlink's typical performance [3].
### Upload Speeds
Starlink's median upload speed is more than triple that of HughesNet, which has improved from 2.87 Mbps in 2022 to 4.44 Mbps in 2025 [1][2]. Viasat's upload speed data is not explicitly provided in the latest reports.
### Data Allowances and Pricing
- **HughesNet**: Plans range from $49.99–$94.99 per month for 12 months, with data caps of 100–200 gigabytes (GB). Speeds may be reduced after exceeding the cap [3][4]. - **Viasat**: Plans cost $99.99–$129.99 per month, with "unlimited" data, but speeds may be throttled after a certain usage threshold [3]. - **Starlink**: Plans range from $80–$165 per month, with no hard data caps on residential service (except for some travel plans), higher upfront equipment costs, and the fastest speeds [3][4].
### State-Specific Results
- In New Jersey, HughesNet users averaged the lowest speeds for HughesNet nationwide at 35.56 Mbps. - HughesNet users in Maryland achieved median download speeds of 98.03 Mbps in 2025. - As of early 2025, HughesNet's median latency improved to 683 milliseconds, down from 1,019 milliseconds in early 2022. - Viasat also improved, increasing from 25.18 Mbps to 49.12 Mbps over the same period.
### Viasat's Future Plans
Viasat plans to launch additional satellites in 2025 and 2026 to expand coverage [5]. HughesNet's Jupiter 3 satellite has already improved speeds and capacity [6].
### Market Disruption
Starlink's aggressive pricing has drawn customers away from GEO providers, as it offers lower latency, faster speeds, and (for most users) no data caps at a higher initial cost [1][2][4]. HughesNet and Viasat, while improving, still trail behind Starlink in latency and upload performance, which limits their competitiveness for real-time applications [1][2]. HughesNet users in Nebraska experienced strong results with download speeds of 77.11 Mbps, likely due to HughesNet Fusion [7].
The fundamental physics of geostationary versus low Earth orbit satellites means that Starlink will likely maintain this performance advantage for the foreseeable future [1][2].
- In the space economy, the performance of satellite internet providers such as HughesNet, Viasat, and Starlink is a significant topic of discussion within the field of science, business, and technology.
- The use of low Earth orbit satellites by Starlink provides a technological advantage in terms of lower latency compared to HughesNet and Viasat, which employ geostationary satellites.
- The development of a space-and-astronomy oriented business strategy may involve careful consideration of the financing options required for the deployment of various satellite constellations, as exhibited by the launch plans of Viasat and Starlink.
