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Not many internet providers have made it to every corner of the USA. Among other reasons, the high cost of a wired landline infrastructure renders their domination plans difficult to realize. HughesNet on the other hand cashed on the experience that Hughes Network Systems had accumulated since 1996 when the company launched a satellite internet service for residential consumers and small businesses. The service was rebranded in 2012 and renamed—from DirecPC to HughesNet. Given that HughesNet service is satellite-based, it naturally comes to span an area much wider than would be feasible for any wired internet provider to cover. Taking to the skies has therefore landed HughesNet with indisputable dominance even in remote regions where there is no other viable option.
By 2017 HughesNet had launched EchoStar XVII and X1X high-throughput satellites—combined with pre-existing JUPITER System tech, the service came to cover the 53 United States. Next-gen architecture allowed HughesNet to launch HughesNet Gen-5 and become the first satellite internet service to meet the benchmark of 25 Mbps—as defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Thus today, HughesNet has an efficient satellite grid that gives you fast internet service no matter where you are in the U.S. While HughesNet Voice ensures you are not without a phone connection even in a remote rural setting.
The provider has managed to carve out a loyal customer base in a volatile market by offering quality service—for four years in a row (2014-17), HughesNet was #1 in terms of meeting or exceeding promised download speeds; while for 3 years during this period, the service ranked #1 for meeting and exceeding both download and upload advertised speeds.
Understandably, many are stumped when it comes to subscribing to a satellite internet connection. Often dubbed too slow, and bad mouthed for high latency, it has gained a bad reputation among those who dont see the broader picture. If you think along the same lines then you must know satellite internet is the future. With Elon Musk determined to set up his own castle in the sky, there has to be something about this technology, right? Well, there is and when another internet revolution takes place, you would want to be on the right side. Hughes decades-long experience with satellite communications technology prompts you to safely presume the satellite internet service may just top the charts.
Well, if you arent convinced as yet in favor of HughesNet keep reading. We will take a detailed look into what all the contemporary Gen5 satellite internet service has to offer.
With the launch of EchoStar XIX, HughesNet sure established itself as the master of the skies. It is the worlds highest capacity broadband satellite. This multi-spot beam producing satellite allows it to provide internet to up to 50% more households and businesses. Given its wide coverage, you not only get service in the USA but Alaska, Mexico, parts of Canada, and some Central American countries. So, what does this mean for the phone service?
Well, to put it simply, HughesNet directs your call over your satellite connection using Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology, so the greater the satellite capacity the better the service you get.
HughesNet offers four service plans for you to choose from. Each of HughesNet plans offers 25 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed. So, wondering how the four plans are different?
Well, the plans differentiate themselves by data allowance. If you are a single person or a household of just two and simply need internet for checking emails, web browsing, and other lightweight online activities, you can opt for the 10 GB data plan. For a group of 3 to 5 people who like to watch Netflix and keep in the know with social media, a 20 GB plan will suffice.
HughesNet also offers 30 GB and 50 GB plans. They are good for a house of 5 to 6 users and 7 to 8 users respectively. With these, bandwidth-hungry subscribers can stream with ease.
HughesNet Voice Plans offer you unlimited calling—local and nationwide—in the U.S. and to Canada. There are two global calling plans for you to choose from—the international 200 gives you 200 minutes of calling to 60 countries. On the other hand, HughesNet Unlimited plan gives you unlimited talk time to 60 countries. The plans are quite affordable, and if you choose to get internet and phone service both, you can save $10 a month.
And, guess what! Albeit, HughesNet Voice works over your satellite connection, it does not eat on your data allowance or interfere with the internet performance. Plus, you get premium calling features to make your day to day communication easier to keep track of.
One of the major issues a person faces when subscribing to a cable, internet, or phone plan is understanding the finer points. Many times the deal seems perfect on the surface, but when you get into the nitty-gritty of it, often after having subscribed and committed to the service, you realize it is not what you signed up for. To help you figure out if HughesNet is the internet service provider for you we did some research so read on. Youll get to know the pros and cons of it all.
HughesNet Gen5 doesnt give you unlimited data like some providers, which is understandable given the technical nature of the service. But the experience of the #1 satellite service in the U.S., more than makes up for it. Then again having a data cap can feel limiting. However, you will be happy to learn if you cross your data limit theres little for you to worry about.
Some providers charge you for the extra data used or suspend your service altogether. HughesNet on the other hand does neither. They simply decrease the internet speed until your next billing cycle. Sure you wont be able to stream to your hearts content, but you wont be missing out on important emails either. If you want to resume the high speed though, just use a Data Token, and you will be back to 25/3 Mbps.
For the majority of us, a 10 GB, 20 GB, or even 50 GB limit might seem quite low but thats because internet services are hardly ever optimized to give you the most out of your data. HughesNet is very different in this matter. The built-in SmartTechnologies compress and optimize web content automatically to ensure your web pages load faster and use less of your data. It even adjusts the data used in streaming, so you can get more out of it. With these mechanisms in place, you will find their data caps anything but limiting.
If that wasnt enough to convince you the data limit is a non-issue, then get this: during off-peak hours between 2 am to 8 am, you get an additional 50 GB data for the month. For all the heavy files and movies, wed suggest you schedule downloading during these hours.
The one thing satellite internet is criticized for ruthlessly is the lag time. Signals take time to travel all the way to a satellite orbiting in space and back to earth. And, for users, this used to be a major concern. Hughes satellite internet, as we mentioned earlier, became the first satellite provider in 2017 to fulfill the broadband criterion set by the FCC. HughesNet internet speed could now compete on strong ground, even with wired networks, in some markets.
With HughesNet deals, you get a satellite modem that has a built-in dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi router so you dont have to deal with multiple devices taking up space—you can cut the clutter. Whats more, it allows you to set a guest domain for visitors keeping your in-home network secure. Fast, secure, and reliable Wi-Fi is what you experience.
If you get their phone plan you will need an analog telephone adapter to use it, which is valued at $75. HughesNet however, gives you the equipment at no additional charge. Also, you get to keep your phone number if you so wish.
Offering you various plans to fit your budget without compromising on your needs, HughesNet is a worthy candidate in your search for the ultimate internet and phone plan—no matter how far out you live from the urban hubbub, and how scarce high-speed internet is in the region.
This review of HughesNet services shows quite clearly the provider is in the big league. For those settled in rural America, this is pretty much their only option if they want good internet or phone service. This in no way means HughesNet is not making its presence known in urban areas.
For those with less than extravagant internet usage, this is the go-to provider. It gives you great service at competitive rates in its niche, without an avalanche of additional costs riding up your monthly bill. Whats more the technology is improving by each passing day and is set to only get better. So, what do you think? With all that it has to offer, it may be time you call HughesNet Customer Service and find out subscription details.
Yes, all plans require your agreement to use their services for 24 months. If you to cancel the subscription mid-way you will have to pay an early termination fee.
Hughes internet plans offer 10 GB, 20 GB, 30 GB, and 50 GB data allowance.
Bonus Zone starts at 2 am and goes on till 8 am.
You get 50 GB of extra data each month that you can use during the Bonus Zone hours.
HughesNet neither stops your service nor charge you extra for the extra data you use. It simply slows the speed until the next billing cycle.