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About Viasat Internet
Formerly Exede and WildBlue, Viasat Internet is the satellite internet service offered by ViaSat Inc. Viasat was founded in May, 1986 and are currently headquartered in Carlsbad, California. Viasat Internet acquired the former WildBlue Communications in 2009. In 2011, ViaSat launched the ViaSat-1 satellite. This drastically improved both the economics, and quality of service for satellite internet customers. In 2017 the company launched ViaSat-2 which more than tripled the company's data cap and enlarged their footprint to cover most of North America. Also in 2017, the company transitioned to their own Viasat branding, which was formerly Exede satellite service. An internet plan with Viasat satellite internet can offer download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 3 Mbps. Former WildBlue customers can upgrade to Viasat's service with the installation of new equipment. Viasat is available virtually anywhere in the contiguous US, but since satellite capacity is finite, the service may not be available in areas where subscription rates are already high.
Features of their High Speed Internet Service Include:
Satellite internet with fast speeds up to 100 Mbps download in rural internet areas.
Select locations and limited Viasat satellite internet service users can get a $100 prepaid VISA credit card when they order a Viasat internet plan.
Get a Viasat internet plan with unlimited data usage starting at a price of $40/mo for the first 3 months with up to 12 Mbps download speeds. Data throttling after reaching tiered data usage thresholds. Liberty Pass allows users to connect at slower speeds who have exceeded data limits.
Benefits like free installation and service technician calls for the first three months with Viasat EasyCare.
All Viasat business plans come with a 2-year price lock guarantee, equipment lease, and fast installation.
Home phone service available for a starting price of $19.99 per month for 6 months when bundled with Viasat internet services.
Get a download speed up to 100 Mbps with select Viasat Unlimited Platinum satellite internet plans.
No contract option also available to avoid long-term contracts.
Viasat customer service is available on a 24/7 basis. They have a frequently asked questions page for help, phone inquiries, emails contact, live chat support, Viasat browser, and Viasat portal for customer support.
Viasat Internet Service
Viasat Internet was started in 1986 by Mark Dankberg, Mark Miller and Steve Hart. Formerly known as Exede internet, they now go under the name Viasat internet. Viasat satellite internet service currently serves an estimated 700,000 customers, operates in 9 countries across four continents, and employs more than 5,500 employees. They offer reliable and affordable satellite internet, internet security, and phone line service to select areas. They mainly provide to rural areas and remote locations where telephone lines and cable internet infrastructure stop; which is where satellite technology becomes especially useful. The Viasat service area covers over 308 million residents which makes it the second largest satellite internet connection service in the United States by coverage area.
Viasat Internet Service Coverage Area
Like most satellite internet service providers, Viasat coverage spreads almost worldwide. They have offices in 9 countries across the globe in 4 continents, and the Viasat's satellite dish signal carries across the U.S., parts of Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The states that they currently offer service to include:
Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), and Wyoming (WY).
While the primary advantage to satellite internet is accessibility in remote and rural areas, there are a few downsides. The download speed can be negatively affected by the number of people using the network (since the internet data output capacity of the satellite is constant), the weather, physical satellite dish obstructions and the time it takes from a signal to travel from the dish to the satellite in orbit. The time it takes for signals to travel can also increase lag time and makes it difficult to use Viasat service for online gaming and other activities requiring a highly responsive connection. Finally, hitting monthly data caps with some plans can result in a greatly throttled connection that is difficult to make use of. A high limit Unlimited plan is recommended where available.
What Does Viasat Internet Cost?
Viasat Residential
Viasat Internet offers voice, online security system, and internet services to over 700,000 customers worldwide. A range of internet options, prices, speed tiers and monthly data thresholds are available on internet service plans to meet the variety of needs of different people. There are no data limits or overage charges with Viasat internet. However, Viasat satellite internet comes with a high speed data allowance and speeds are greatly reduced once the high speed data limit is reached. Featured Viasat data plans and pricing on a two-year contract include:
Viasat Unlimited Basic 12: Download speed up to 12 Mbps with 15 GB of data for a price of $40/mo.
Viasat Unlimited Bronze 12: 12 Mbps download speeds with 40 GB of high speed data for purchase at $50/mo.
Viasat Unlimited Silver 25 provides speeds of up to 25 Mbps, and a 60 GB highspeed data package for $70 per month.
Viasat Unlimited Gold 50 gives an internet speed with 50 Mbps download speeds, and 100 GB of priority data.
Viasat Unlimited Platinum 100: For $150/mo get 150 GB of priority data. Gives faster speeds of 100 Mbps.
Viasat Liberty plans have a free zone/bonus zone where users' internet connections are not counted toward their monthly data limit between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. They also have an option to have no long term contract however this may lead to a higher monthly price. Viasat phone service offers unlimited local and long distance calling for $19.99 per month for 6 months. Every Viasat plan comes with Viasat Shield to defend against common security threats. Viasat Shield-Premium is also available with browsing protection, device control and comprehensive device protection.
Another one of the options Viasat offers is Viasat Flex, which combines the capabilities of satellite with DSL functionalities for improved internet quality.
Viasat Business Internet Service
Anyone with a business account with Viasat internet gets access to faster upload speeds, and like the residential plans; have no limit on internet usage. Viasat satellite plans do however have data caps for priority internet connection. Viasat plans have a minimum two-year (24 month) contract. Their unlimited plans have the following tiers: Unlimited 12 Mbps with 75 GB of data; Unlimited 35 Mbps with 75 GB of priority data; Unlimited 60 Mbps with 150 GB of priority data; and Unlimited 100 Mbps with 200 GB of priority data. Additionally, Viasat offers metered plans with varying speeds which give the customer metered usage of 1 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB, 100 GB or 200 GB of priority data and additional usage for an additional monthly rate.
In addition to Viasat's Business internet service, they also offer voice for $25 per month with up to four lines. It is a flexible, cloud-based phone which has the same unlimited calling features as their home phone. The only difference is that it has a 24 month minimum service term. Viasat Internet also offers hotspots starting at $40/mo. This offers secure Wi-Fi to Viasat customers with a separate employee and customer login, web content filtering, usage reporting, and both indoor/outdoor access points; minimum two year contract, one-time activation, and one-time installation fees apply.
Additional Fees and Charges
A professional installer will come help and do any setups required; no self-installation option is available as professional satellite dish installation is required by FCC regulations. The one-time standard installation fee is $300, but this may be waived depending on where you live and current available offers. Buyers do not have the option to bring in their own modem. There is an equipment lease fee for $10/mo for the Viasat modem which comes with: the modem, Wi-Fi enabled wireless router, voice adapter, and 4-port Gigabit Ethernet router. Alternatively, customers can purchase this gateway for a one time cost of $299.99.
Unlike other satellite internet companies, Viasat offers no data cap on their plans, however once the data usage threshold is met as well as during network congestion; users may experience slower speeds. An early termination fee and cancellation fees of $15 per month remaining on the contract apply when a customer wishes to cancel their existing Viasat plans. For the first two years, customers will not see any price increases guaranteed. Also there are no automatic fees for exceeding the monthly data threshold on a residential home network plan.
Viasat's direct U.S. competitors include other satellite internet providers such as Intelsat (for business) and Hughesnet. Other competitors include traditional cable, dsl or fiber internet providers who typically can offer lower latency and higher internet access speeds at lower prices than what is possible with satellite. For customers in remote areas of the United States without wired high speed internet or a good wireless internet signal, satellite internet may be the best option available. In some areas, where wired internet is available but at slow "end of the line" speeds, Viasat may also be a good option.