Viasat Speed Test - Check Satellite Internet Speed

Test your Viasat internet speed in United States

www.viasat.com
Download -- Mbps
Upload -- Mbps
Ping -- ms

Viasat is a geostationary satellite internet provider serving 700,000 customers across rural America with speeds up to 150 Mbps. Operating high-capacity satellites, Viasat offers unlimited data plans without hard caps. Test your Viasat connection to measure actual download, upload, and latency performance.

About Viasat

Viasat Inc., founded in 1986 and headquartered in Carlsbad, California, operates a fleet of high-capacity geostationary satellites providing internet to residential, aviation, and government customers.

The company serves approximately 700,000 residential internet subscribers in the United States, plus millions of airline passengers through in-flight WiFi. Viasat acquired Inmarsat in 2023, expanding its global satellite network. The company is launching the ViaSat-3 satellite constellation to increase capacity and speeds.

Viasat Plans and Services

Viasat offers several internet plans across different technologies and price points.

Viasat Unleashed plans cost $99.99 to $149.99 per month. Unleashed offers speeds up to 100 Mbps with unlimited standard data at $99.99. Unleashed Plus delivers up to 150 Mbps with priority data at $149.99.

Unlike HughesNet, Viasat does not have hard data caps - instead, video streaming is limited to 480p quality to manage bandwidth. Equipment lease is $12.99/month. 2-year contract required. Viasat suits users who prioritize unlimited data over 4K streaming.

Viasat Internet Plans

PlanSpeedPriceFeatures
Unleashed satelliteUp to 100 Mbps$99.99/month
  • Unlimited standard data
  • No hard data caps
  • Video streaming at 480p
Unleashed Plus satelliteUp to 150 Mbps$149.99/month
  • 150 Mbps where available
  • Unlimited standard data
  • Priority during congestion

Prices and availability may vary by location. Contact Viasat for current offers.

Viasat Coverage by Region

Viasat performance varies by location. Coverage density, local infrastructure, and network congestion affect speeds in each market.

Continental United States (Lower 48 states)

Coverage: Nationwide GEO satellite coverage via ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2, and emerging ViaSat-3 satellites. Service available anywhere with clear southern sky view. Viasat beam coverage divides US into geographic regions serving multiple customers per beam. Typical: Download speeds 25-150 Mbps depending on plan, location, and beam congestion. Unleashed (100 Mbps plan) typically delivers 50-80 Mbps during peak evening hours. Unleashed Plus (150 Mbps plan) achieves 80-120 Mbps. Upload speeds 3-5 Mbps. Latency consistently 600-700ms (GEO satellite physics). Video streaming automatically throttled to 480p (DVD quality) regardless of speed tier. Peak congestion: Significant evening congestion (6-10pm) as Viasat oversells beam capacity. Speeds can drop 40-60% during peak hours in heavily subscribed beams. Unleashed Plus offers priority during congestion, maintaining higher speeds vs. standard Unleashed. Weather (rain, snow) further degrades performance.

Viasat operates higher-capacity satellites than HughesNet (ViaSat-2: 300 Gbps total capacity vs. Jupiter 2: 100 Gbps), allowing more customers per beam but similar per-customer speeds. ViaSat-3 constellation (launched 2023-2024) provides 1+ Tbps capacity each, significantly expanding network. However, Starlink disruption limits Viasat growth—subscribers declining 20% 2021-2026 similar to HughesNet. Viasat's 'unlimited' data approach differs from HughesNet's hard caps—no GB limits, but video quality restricted to 480p SD. YouTube, Netflix, Disney+ automatically served at 480p regardless of subscription tier. Viasat monitors video traffic and enforces resolution limits via network management. Non-video traffic (web, downloads, gaming data) unthrottled. Strategy manages congestion while avoiding customer frustration from hard cap exhaustion. Rural customers appreciate unlimited data for general browsing but frustrated by inability to watch HD streaming. 480p acceptable on phones/tablets, poor on large TVs. Installation identical to HughesNet: professional technician mounts dish on roof/pole aimed at satellite 15-25° above southern horizon. Trees, buildings blocking south prevent service. 600-700ms latency makes video conferencing, gaming unusable—same limitation as all GEO satellite.

Western United States (strongest Viasat presence)

Coverage: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana—Viasat's historic stronghold from Carlsbad, CA headquarters. Higher beam capacity allocation and better beam geometry (satellite positioned over equator, western US has optimal viewing angles). Typical: Western markets typically achieve 70-100 Mbps on Unleashed (100 Mbps plan) during daytime, 50-80 Mbps evenings. Slightly better performance than Midwest/East due to beam allocation and satellite geometry. Uploads 3-5 Mbps. Latency 600-700ms. Peak congestion: Moderate to high congestion depending on locale. Rural Montana/Idaho beams less congested (sparse population). Suburban California/Arizona more congested (exurban sprawl from LA, Phoenix, San Diego). Unleashed Plus priority helps during peak.

California represents Viasat's largest market—rural/mountain properties beyond cable/fiber footprint. Central Valley farming communities, Sierra Nevada foothill towns, San Diego County backcountry rely on Viasat or Starlink. Arizona's rural areas (Flagstaff outskirts, Prescott, Yuma County) also heavily served. Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington) has growing fiber alternatives (Ziply Fiber, CenturyLink, local co-ops) reducing Viasat dependence. Mountain West (Utah, Idaho, Montana) remains satellite-dependent due to sparse population density and rugged terrain preventing wired infrastructure. Western customers increasingly switching to Starlink as it expands—Viasat subscriber loss most pronounced in California/Arizona (30-40% decline 2021-2026). Viasat's aviation business (in-flight WiFi) also centered on western airlines, though business-to-consumer residential focus here.

Rural South and Midwest

Coverage: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama—extensive rural coverage. Beam allocation moderate; shared with many rural customers. Typical: Typical speeds 40-80 Mbps on Unleashed (100 Mbps plan), 60-120 Mbps on Unleashed Plus (150 Mbps plan). Great Plains states (Kansas, Nebraska, Dakotas) achieve better speeds due to lower subscriber density. Texas heavily congested around exurban areas (Hill Country, rural Dallas/Houston outskirts). Uploads 3-5 Mbps, latency 600-700ms. Peak congestion: Variable. Great Plains beams less congested—Dakotas, Kansas rural areas see minimal evening slowdowns. Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri more congested due to population. Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi moderate congestion. Unleashed Plus priority mitigates congestion but doesn't eliminate.

Rural South/Midwest represents large Viasat market—farming, ranching, small-town America without cable. Texas particularly important (population 30M, 15% rural = 4.5M rural Texans). Many use satellite as only option 20+ miles from towns. CenturyLink DSL available in some areas but often 10-25 Mbps, slower than Viasat's 50-80 Mbps. Great Plains states (Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska) have excellent Viasat performance—low subscriber density per beam, minimal congestion, wide open skies without tree obstructions. Midwest corn belt (Iowa, Missouri, Illinois) faces tree obstructions (forested areas block southern sky). Southern humidity and thunderstorms cause frequent rain fade—Gulf Coast residents (Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi) experience more weather-related outages than arid West. Viasat competes with HughesNet, Starlink, and emerging 5G Home Internet (T-Mobile expanding rural towers). Customer retention challenged by Starlink's superior latency and HD streaming.

East Coast and Southeast

Coverage: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York (rural areas)—moderate Viasat presence. East Coast has better wired broadband penetration (cable, fiber) limiting satellite addressable market to remote areas. Typical: Speeds 40-90 Mbps on Unleashed, 70-120 Mbps on Unleashed Plus depending on beam. North Carolina/Virginia rural mountains good performance. Florida variable—rural Panhandle/interior good, exurban Orlando/Tampa/Miami congested. Uploads 3-5 Mbps, latency 600-700ms. Peak congestion: Florida significantly congested during winter months (snowbird seasonal population influx). North/South Carolina moderate congestion. Appalachian mountains (West Virginia, Pennsylvania) lower congestion due to sparse population. Southeast tornado alley weather causes frequent outages.

East Coast has less satellite dependence—Comcast, Spectrum, Verizon Fios, AT&T cover most population centers. Satellite customers concentrated in Appalachian mountains (rural Pennsylvania, West Virginia, western North Carolina/Virginia) and rural Florida interior (agricultural areas, Everglades fringe). Florida unique market—large snowbird population (retirees wintering November-April) spikes demand during those months, congesting beams. Summer months less congested as snowbirds return north. Hurricanes major risk—Florida, Carolinas, Gulf Coast experience annual tropical storms disrupting satellite signal (rain fade) and damaging dishes (high winds). Viasat customers in hurricane-prone areas face extended outages during major storms (days-weeks). Southeast humid subtropical climate causes more rain fade than arid West. Tree growth (southern forests) creates line-of-sight challenges—dish placement requires clearing southern sky of vegetation.

Alaska, Hawaii, Territories

Coverage: Alaska statewide (with southern sky view), Hawaii all islands, Puerto Rico. Higher-latitude Alaska (Arctic) challenging due to low satellite elevation angles. Hawaii good satellite geometry (tropical latitude). Typical: Alaska: 40-100 Mbps typical, lower beam congestion due to sparse population. Hawaii: 50-120 Mbps, moderate congestion on Oahu. Puerto Rico: 50-100 Mbps. All locations: 3-5 Mbps uploads, 600-700ms latency. Video throttled to 480p. Peak congestion: Alaska minimal congestion—most beams serve few customers across vast geography. Hawaii Oahu moderate congestion (highest population density), outer islands low. Puerto Rico moderate, shares beam capacity with Southeast US.

Alaska important Viasat market—limited wired infrastructure outside Anchorage/Fairbanks. Rural villages, off-grid locations rely on satellite. Viasat competes with HughesNet, Starlink, and GCI (Alaska regional provider). Alaska customers value Viasat's unlimited data for downloading large files during brief connection windows. Extreme winters (snow on dishes, permafrost installation issues) create challenges. Hawaii's outer islands (Big Island, Kauai, Molokai) depend on satellite—Hawaiian Telcom fiber concentrated on Oahu. Tropical weather (heavy rain, typhoons) causes frequent rain fade. Puerto Rico recovering from Hurricane Maria 2017 infrastructure damage—improved wired broadband reduces satellite dependence, but mountain interior remains satellite-reliant. Viasat also serves US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa where applicable.

Satellite Beam Technology and ViaSat-3 Expansion

Coverage: Viasat divides coverage into spot beams (100-200 miles diameter), each beam serving multiple customers sharing capacity. ViaSat-2 (launched 2017): 300 Gbps capacity, 60+ beams. ViaSat-3 (2023-2024): 1+ Tbps capacity per satellite, 100+ beams. Three ViaSat-3 satellites cover Americas, Europe/Africa, Asia-Pacific. Typical: ViaSat-3 beams theoretically support 150 Mbps+ to more customers simultaneously. Real-world speeds depend on beam loading. New ViaSat-3 beams less congested initially; performance degrades as customers added without proportional capacity increases. Peak congestion: ViaSat-3 reduces congestion vs. ViaSat-1/2, but Viasat continues overselling beams. Congestion management via 480p video throttling and priority tiers (Unleashed Plus). Network congestion remains issue despite capacity upgrades—customer growth (before Starlink disruption) outpaced capacity additions.

Viasat's ViaSat-3 constellation represents $2+ billion investment in next-generation GEO satellites—largest, most powerful commercial satellites ever built (9+ tons, 1 Tbps capacity each vs. ViaSat-2's 300 Gbps). ViaSat-3 Americas (launched 2023) covers US, Canada, Mexico, Central/South America. ViaSat-3 EMEA and Asia-Pacific complete global coverage. Despite capacity increase, fundamental GEO limitations persist—600-700ms latency, weather sensitivity, oversold beams. Starlink's LEO constellation (2000+ satellites, 20-40ms latency) provides superior experience, undermining Viasat's ViaSat-3 ROI. Viasat acquired Inmarsat 2023 ($7.3B) to expand government, maritime, aviation markets—residential broadband increasingly deprioritized in favor of B2B services. ViaSat-3's capacity helps but doesn't solve latency, making residential satellite obsolete vs. Starlink. Viasat focusing on airline WiFi (United, Delta, American Airlines), military communications, maritime (cruise ships, cargo vessels) where GEO acceptable.

Is Viasat Right for You?

Every provider has trade-offs. Here is how Viasat performs based on real-world usage and customer feedback.

Strengths

  • 'Unlimited' data without hard GB caps—unlike HughesNet's 50-200 GB monthly limits, Viasat Unleashed plans don't throttle after specific data threshold. Users can browse, download, stream indefinitely without worrying about data meter. Eliminates anxiety of monitoring usage or buying data tokens.
  • Faster top-tier speeds (150 Mbps) vs. HughesNet (100 Mbps)—Unleashed Plus's 150 Mbps advertised speed higher than HughesNet Elite's 100 Mbps. Real-world advantage modest (80-120 Mbps vs. 60-90 Mbps) but psychological benefit of higher tier. ViaSat-3 enables future speed increases.
  • Priority data option (Unleashed Plus)—higher-tier plan receives priority during beam congestion. Unleashed Plus customers maintain better speeds during 6-10pm peak hours vs. standard Unleashed deprioritized. Pays $50/month more for network priority.
  • ViaSat-3 next-generation satellites—newer, higher-capacity satellites (1+ Tbps vs. ViaSat-2's 300 Gbps) improve beam capacity. Customers on ViaSat-3 beams experience less congestion than legacy ViaSat-1/2 beams. Future-proof infrastructure vs. aging competitors.
  • Professional installation included—Viasat provides free professional installation (retail value $300). Technician handles dish mounting, alignment, modem setup. Simpler than Starlink self-install for non-technical rural customers. Installation typically 1-2 weeks after order.
  • Nationwide coverage including remote areas—GEO satellite reaches anywhere in US with clear southern sky. Viasat available in locations 50+ miles from nearest town, mountain properties, off-grid homes impossible to serve with wired infrastructure. True last-resort option.
  • In-flight WiFi integration—Viasat's aviation business operates WiFi on United, Delta, American Airlines, international carriers. Residential customers familiar with Viasat brand from airline experience. Brand recognition differentiator vs. HughesNet.
  • Video optimization for bandwidth management—480p video throttling prevents heavy streamers from degrading beam capacity for all users. Fair-use policy manages congestion without hard data caps. Customers watching multiple 480p streams don't impact neighbors.
  • No hard speed throttle after 'cap'—since no GB cap exists, Viasat never throttles speeds to 1-3 Mbps like HughesNet post-cap. Customers receive full speeds (minus congestion) 24/7. Eliminates end-of-cycle frustration of crippled internet.
  • Better than no internet for remote locations—rural residents without cable, fiber, DSL, or cellular have limited options. Viasat provides functional internet enabling work-from-home, online school, telehealth, streaming where previously impossible. Bridges digital divide.

Weaknesses

  • 600-700ms latency unusable for gaming/video conferencing—GEO satellite physics create 1.2-second round-trip delay. Zoom, Teams, gaming unplayable. Same fundamental limitation as HughesNet. No fix—LEO satellites (Starlink) required for low latency. Real-time applications non-functional.
  • Video streaming forced to 480p (SD) quality—Viasat automatically throttles Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ to DVD-quality 480p regardless of plan or subscription tier. Cannot watch HD (1080p) or 4K streaming. Acceptable on phones, poor on 50+ inch TVs. Viasat prioritizes bandwidth management over customer experience.
  • More expensive than HughesNet ($100-150 vs. $65-95)—Viasat's unlimited model costs $35-55/month more than HughesNet for similar speeds. $1,200-1,800 more annually. Budget-conscious rural customers choose HughesNet; video quality important users frustrated by both. Starlink $120/month competitive with Viasat.
  • Beam congestion despite 'unlimited' marketing—unlimited data doesn't mean unlimited speed. Oversold beams congest during peak hours, dropping 100 Mbps plan to 40-60 Mbps. Viasat oversells capacity assuming not all users online simultaneously. Performance lottery based on beam assignment.
  • Weather disruptions (rain fade, snow)—same GEO satellite vulnerabilities as HughesNet. Heavy rain, thunderstorms, snow attenuation cause outages or degraded speeds. Humid Southeast experiences more rain fade than arid West. Winter snow accumulation on dish requires manual clearing. Weather reliability poor vs. wired.
  • 2-year contract with $300-500 early termination fee—contract lock-in prevents switching to Starlink or other alternatives without penalty. ETF starts $500, declining $20/month served. Customers discovering Starlink available must wait contract expiry or pay ETF. Contract protects Viasat's equipment investment, traps customers.
  • Equipment lease $12.99/month adds $312 to 2-year cost—modem/dish rental built into contract. Total 2-year cost: Unleashed Plus $149.99 + $12.99 lease = $162.98/month × 24 = $3,911. Purchase option available ($299) but most customers lease. Starlink $599 upfront equipment cheaper over 2+ years.
  • Slow 3-5 Mbps uploads insufficient for work-from-home—video conferencing requires 3-5 Mbps upload; Viasat provides exactly that range, leaving zero margin. Multiple household members on video calls simultaneously impossible. Cloud backup impractical (uploading 500 GB takes 10-15 days).
  • Deprioritization of standard Unleashed during congestion—lower-tier customers receive degraded speeds when beams congest. Unleashed Plus gets priority, leaving Unleashed users with 30-50 Mbps during peak. Two-tier system creates inequality—wealthier users paying $150/month get usable service, $100/month users suffer.
  • Starlink vastly superior alternative—Starlink offers 100-200 Mbps (vs. Viasat 50-120 Mbps real-world), 20-40ms latency (vs. 600-700ms), true unlimited with HD/4K streaming (vs. 480p throttling), gaming/video call capable, similar $120/month price. Viasat losing 20-30% subscribers annually to Starlink. GEO satellite obsolete for residential use.

Best For

  • Rural users needing unlimited data without hard caps—customers frustrated by HughesNet's 50-200 GB caps benefit from Viasat's unlimited approach. Heavy web browsing, downloading software, online gaming data (not real-time gaming, just downloads) don't exhaust limits. Unlimited usage freedom.
  • Households watching multiple SD streams simultaneously—family of four streaming 480p Netflix/Disney+ on different devices functions within Viasat's video throttling. 480p uses ~700 MB/hour vs. HD 3 GB/hour. Multiple SD streams feasible; multiple HD streams impossible anyway (would exhaust HughesNet caps).
  • Light video quality users (small screens)—customers watching on phones, tablets, laptops under 15 inches won't notice 480p quality degradation. Smartphones especially suited to SD. Users without large TVs adapt to 480p acceptable. Elderly users with poor eyesight may not differentiate 480p vs. 1080p.
  • Customers unable to afford Starlink upfront—Viasat finances equipment via contract ($13/month lease). Starlink requires $599 upfront. Rural low-income households may choose Viasat despite inferior service to avoid upfront capital. $100-150/month ongoing vs. $120 Starlink + $599 barrier.
  • Areas where Starlink waitlisted (rare by 2026)—some rural regions had Starlink multi-month waitlists through 2024. By 2026 mostly resolved, but pockets exist. Viasat immediately available. Interim solution while awaiting Starlink—switch when available (pay ETF if worth it).
  • Users prioritizing web browsing over streaming quality—rural residents mainly using internet for email, social media, news, online shopping rather than heavy video streaming. 480p throttling irrelevant if minimal streaming. Web performance identical to HughesNet at similar speeds.
  • Unleashed Plus priority users willing to pay premium—customers paying $150/month for Unleashed Plus receive network priority during congestion, maintaining 80-120 Mbps when standard users throttled to 40 Mbps. Premium positioning worth $50/month extra for consistent performance vs. lottery.

Not Ideal For

  • HD/4K streaming enthusiasts—Viasat's 480p video throttling makes service unsuitable for users with 50+ inch 4K TVs who want Netflix/Disney+ in full quality. Cannot watch HD regardless of subscription tier or willingness to pay. Starlink required for HD streaming.
  • Online gamers—600-700ms latency makes competitive gaming (FPS, MOBA, RTS) unplayable, identical to HughesNet limitation. Input lag 1.2 seconds. Gamers need <50ms; GEO satellite 14x too slow. Starlink, cable, fiber, or 5G Home Internet mandatory for gaming.
  • Video conferencing professionals—Zoom, Teams, Google Meet unusable with 700ms latency. 1+ second talking delay destroys remote work productivity. Camera feeds freeze, audio drops. Work-from-home requiring daily video calls impossible. Starlink or wired internet required.
  • Households with large 4K TVs—main living room 65-inch 4K TV displays 480p video poorly (pixelated, blurry). Viasat's throttling destroys viewing experience on premium displays. Budget users with small 32-inch 1080p TVs tolerate 480p better. Home theater enthusiasts frustrated.
  • Customers with Starlink availability—if Starlink serviceable at address, choose Starlink over Viasat. Starlink superior in every metric except upfront equipment cost ($599). Long-term Starlink better value and experience. Viasat only makes sense if Starlink waitlisted (rare by 2026) or unaffordable.
  • Users in T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home Internet coverage—fixed wireless offers 50-200 Mbps, 25-40ms latency, unlimited HD streaming, $50-60/month. Vastly superior to Viasat for lower cost. Check 5G Home Internet first. Satellite last resort after exhausting wired/wireless terrestrial options.
  • Cloud backup users—3-5 Mbps uploads take days-weeks to upload hundreds of GB to cloud (Backblaze, Carbonite). Viasat impractical for automated cloud backup. Local external drive backups necessary. Upload limitations same as HughesNet.

How Viasat Compares

Side-by-side comparison of Viasat against major competitors in United States.

CompetitorSpeedPriceCoverageVerdict
StarlinkStarlink: 100-200 Mbps typical (peaks 300 Mbps) vs. Viasat: 50-120 Mbps typical (advertised 100-150 Mbps). Starlink 1.5-2x faster. Uploads: Starlink 10-20 Mbps vs. Viasat 3-5 Mbps. Latency: Starlink 20-40ms vs. Viasat 600-700ms—Starlink 17x lower enables gaming, video conferencing.Viasat $100-150/month + $13 equipment lease = $113-163/month total. Starlink $120/month + $599 equipment upfront (one-time). Viasat $13-43/month cheaper ongoing, but Starlink $599 upfront amortizes to $25/month over 2 years = $145/month total, competitive with Viasat Unleashed Plus. Long-term cost similar, but Starlink vastly better service.Both nationwide with clear sky. Starlink requires unobstructed northern sky; Viasat southern sky. Starlink 99% rural address coverage by 2026, no waitlists. Viasat immediately available but irrelevant given Starlink superiority. Coverage parity.Choose Starlink over Viasat in nearly all scenarios. Starlink better for gaming, video calls, HD streaming (no 480p throttling), lower latency, similar price. Choose Viasat only if: (1) cannot afford $599 Starlink upfront (rare justification), (2) Starlink unavailable (extreme rarity by 2026), (3) southern sky view only (northern obstructed). 95%+ rural users should choose Starlink. Viasat's 480p throttling dealbreaker for modern streaming expectations.
Hughes NetViasat: 50-120 Mbps real-world (100-150 Mbps advertised) vs. HughesNet: 40-90 Mbps real-world (50-100 Mbps advertised). Viasat slightly faster (10-20%). Uploads both 3-5 Mbps. Latency identical 600-700ms (both GEO). Performance gap marginal—beam congestion matters more than advertised tiers.Viasat: $100-150/month + $13 lease = $113-163/month. HughesNet: $65-95/month + $15 lease = $80-110/month. Viasat $33-53/month more expensive. HughesNet cheaper for budget users; Viasat higher-cost for unlimited data model. $400-650/year savings choosing HughesNet.Both nationwide GEO coverage. Availability identical—wherever clear southern sky exists. Beam assignments differ; performance depends on local beam congestion (unpredictable). Coverage tie.Negligible difference—both obsolete vs. Starlink. Choose HughesNet if light usage fits 50-200 GB caps and budget matters ($80-110 vs. $113-163). Choose Viasat if heavy usage needs unlimited data and willing to accept 480p video throttling. Viasat's 'unlimited' benefits web browsing, downloading, but video quality restriction negates streaming advantage. For most users, wait/switch to Starlink rather than choosing between two inferior GEO options. If Starlink unavailable, HughesNet budget-friendly; Viasat for unlimited data anxiety elimination.
TMobile Home InternetT-Mobile Home Internet: 50-200 Mbps (5G) or 25-100 Mbps (LTE) vs. Viasat: 50-120 Mbps. Speeds comparable, but T-Mobile latency 25-40ms vs. Viasat 600-700ms. T-Mobile enables gaming, video calls, HD streaming; Viasat throttles video to 480p. Uploads: T-Mobile 10-30 Mbps vs. Viasat 3-5 Mbps.T-Mobile: $50/month unlimited data, no equipment fee, no contract. Viasat: $100-150/month + $13 equipment + 2-year contract = $113-163/month. T-Mobile $63-113/month cheaper. Annual savings $750-1,350 choosing T-Mobile. No-brainer where T-Mobile available.T-Mobile requires 3+ bars 4G/5G cellular signal at address. Capacity-limited—not every address in coverage area qualifies. Rural weak-signal areas cannot use. Viasat available anywhere with sky view, including zero-cell-coverage areas. T-Mobile addressable market smaller.Check T-Mobile Home Internet first (t-mobile.com/coverage). If available with adequate signal (3+ bars), choose T-Mobile—$50/month unlimited HD streaming, gaming-capable, no contract vastly better than Viasat $113-163 with 480p throttling and 700ms latency. Choose Viasat only if T-Mobile unavailable due to poor cellular. Same applies to Verizon 5G Home ($60/month). Cellular fixed wireless superior to satellite when signal exists. Satellite last resort.

Troubleshooting Viasat Issues

Common Viasat connection problems and how to fix them.

Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ automatically playing at 480p (DVD quality) instead of HD/4K despite fast speeds and premium streaming subscriptions

Cause: Viasat enforces 480p video throttling across all plans to manage satellite beam bandwidth. Deep packet inspection identifies video traffic (Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Disney+, Twitch, etc.) and limits resolution to 480p regardless of customer's streaming subscription tier or willingness to pay more. Cannot be disabled or bypassed—network-level restriction.

  1. Understand 480p throttling is permanent and unfixable—Viasat's network management policy throttles all video to SD quality. No plan upgrade, customer service call, or technical workaround removes restriction. Accepting 480p or switching to unthrottled ISP (Starlink, cable, fiber, 5G Home Internet) are only options.
  2. Optimize viewing for 480p quality—watch on smaller screens (phones, tablets, laptops under 15 inches) where resolution difference less noticeable. Avoid large 50+ inch 4K TVs where 480p appears pixelated and blurry. Sit farther from screen to reduce perceived quality loss.
  3. Download HD videos during off-peak for offline viewing—if specific movies/shows must be HD, download via torrent, iTunes purchase, physical media (Blu-ray) and watch offline. Viasat doesn't throttle non-streaming traffic. Download 10-20 GB files takes 6-10 hours at 50 Mbps but provides HD viewing.
  4. Use VPN to attempt bypassing throttling (success rate low)—some VPNs encrypt traffic preventing Viasat from identifying video streams. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark may allow HD streaming if encryption hides traffic type. However, VPN overhead adds latency (700ms → 800-900ms) and reduces speeds 20-30%. Viasat may detect/block VPNs. Not reliable solution.
  5. Complain to Viasat (likely ineffective)—contact customer service expressing dissatisfaction with 480p throttling. Escalate to retention department, request plan upgrade or throttling removal. Unlikely to succeed (network-wide policy), but vocal complaints may influence future policy changes if enough customers complain.
  6. Switch to Starlink or other unthrottled ISP—if HD/4K streaming critical, Viasat unsuitable. Starlink $120/month provides unlimited HD/4K streaming with 100-200 Mbps and no video throttling. Cable, fiber, 5G Home Internet also unthrottled. Calculate Viasat ETF ($300-500) vs. value of HD streaming—often worth switching despite penalty.

Online gaming unplayable with 1+ second input lag, video calls (Zoom, Teams) have awkward 1+ second delay making conversations difficult

Cause: Geostationary satellite physics—Viasat satellites orbit 22,000 miles above equator. Signal travels 22,000 miles up + 22,000 miles down = 44,000 mile round trip. Light speed in atmosphere ~186,000 miles/second; minimum propagation time 236ms one-way, 472ms round-trip. Add modem processing, satellite transponder routing, gateway processing: total 600-700ms latency. Cannot be reduced—GEO orbit physics limitation.

  1. Accept latency as unfixable GEO satellite limitation—600-700ms inherent to Viasat's geostationary orbit. No customer service call, equipment upgrade, or plan change reduces latency. Only solution: switch to low-latency technology (Starlink 20-40ms LEO, cable <20ms, fiber <10ms, 5G Home Internet 25-40ms).
  2. Avoid real-time applications requiring low latency—don't use Viasat for FPS gaming (Counter-Strike, Call of Duty), MOBA (League of Legends), racing games, video conferencing (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet), VoIP calls (WhatsApp, Skype), or remote desktop. These require <100ms, ideally <50ms. Viasat 14x too slow.
  3. Play turn-based or slow-paced games—strategy games (Civilization, XCOM), card games (Hearthstone), RPGs (Baldur's Gate), puzzle games tolerate high latency. Avoid twitch-reflex games. Gaming possible, just not real-time competitive. Download games offline (Steam, Epic) works fine despite latency.
  4. Use asynchronous communication for work—prefer email over video calls, Slack/messaging over real-time collaboration, recorded video messages over live calls. Viasat suitable for asynchronous remote work (writing, coding, design) but not real-time meetings. Adjust expectations with employers/colleagues.
  5. Invest in Starlink for gaming/video calls—if gaming or remote work video conferencing critical, $120/month Starlink + $599 upfront worth investment. 20-40ms latency enables competitive gaming and smooth video calls. Viasat's $100-150/month spent on service that can't deliver. Pay Viasat ETF ($300-500) if necessary—recovered in 3-6 months of better experience.
  6. Use cellular hotspot for critical video calls—if rare video calls required (job interview, client meeting), use smartphone mobile hotspot with 4G/LTE (latency 50-80ms). Burns cellular data but provides usable latency for important calls. Viasat insufficient for professional video conferencing.

Internet slow or completely offline during rain, snow, thunderstorms; signal quality degrades in overcast weather

Cause: Rain fade—water droplets in atmosphere absorb/scatter Ka-band satellite signal (19-31 GHz frequency used by Viasat). Heavy rain attenuates signal, reducing speeds or causing complete loss of satellite lock. Snow/ice accumulation on dish physically blocks signal. Thick clouds also attenuate. GEO satellite 22,000 miles away makes signal more vulnerable to atmospheric interference than LEO satellites (Starlink 340 miles).

  1. Wait for weather to pass—rain fade temporary, lasting duration of storm (typically 15-60 minutes). Severe weather (hurricanes, blizzards) can cause multi-hour or multi-day outages. Monitor weather radar; plan around storms. Not fixable—physics of radio wave propagation through water vapor.
  2. Clear snow/ice from dish immediately—snow accumulation blocks signal completely. Safely access dish (ladder, roof, pole mount) and brush off snow with soft broom. Don't use hot water (thermal shock cracks dish), ice scrapers (scratches surface), or hard tools. For frequent snow areas, consider heated dish cover ($100-200) preventing accumulation.
  3. Verify dish alignment after high winds—50+ mph winds can shift dish pointing off-satellite. Check dish physically secure to mount. If signal lost post-storm and clearing snow doesn't fix, dish may need professional realignment ($100-150 service call). Don't attempt self-alignment (requires precise equipment).
  4. Accept weather unreliability as satellite limitation—GEO satellite inherently weather-dependent. Wired internet (cable, fiber, DSL) vastly more reliable during storms—buried/underground cables unaffected by rain/snow. Satellite unsuitable if weather reliability critical (emergency services, remote work SLA, medical telework). Maintain backup internet (cellular hotspot, Starlink lower rain fade vs. GEO).
  5. Check for vegetation growth obstructing signal—trees, shrubs grow over months/years, gradually blocking southern sky. Seasonal foliage (deciduous trees leafing in spring) blocks signal summer months. Survey southern sky from dish location; trim branches blocking line-of-sight. Rain worsens obstruction (wet leaves absorb signal more than dry).
  6. Upgrade to Starlink for better weather resilience—while Starlink also experiences rain fade, LEO satellites (340 miles altitude) suffer less atmospheric attenuation than GEO (22,000 miles). Shorter signal path = less rain interference. Multiple Starlink satellites visible provides redundancy—if one path fades, beams switch to alternate satellite. Starlink uptime better than Viasat/HughesNet GEO.

Speeds significantly slower than advertised 100-150 Mbps plan, especially during evening hours (6-10pm), receiving only 30-60 Mbps

Cause: Satellite beam oversaturation—Viasat divides coverage into beams serving multiple customers sharing capacity. Viasat oversells beam capacity assuming not all users online simultaneously. During peak evening hours, many customers streaming video simultaneously congests beam. Unleashed (standard) customers deprioritized during congestion; Unleashed Plus (premium) maintains priority. Beam assignment by geography—cannot choose less-congested beam.

  1. Verify speeds during off-peak hours—test speed at 2am-6am when beam congestion minimal. If achieving near-advertised speeds (90-120 Mbps) off-peak but slow evenings (40-60 Mbps), beam congestion confirmed. If slow 24/7, different issue (dish alignment, weather, equipment fault).
  2. Upgrade to Unleashed Plus for priority—$150/month Unleashed Plus receives network priority during congestion, maintaining 80-120 Mbps when standard Unleashed throttled to 40-60 Mbps. $50/month premium buys queue-jumping. If evening usage critical (work-from-home, streaming), upgrade worth cost. If budget-constrained, accept congestion.
  3. Shift usage to off-peak hours—schedule large downloads, software updates, video buffer-loading for overnight 2am-6am when beam uncongested. Wake computer at 3am for downloads, go to sleep early. Adapt lifestyle to beam congestion patterns. Rural users sometimes adjust schedules to satellite limitations.
  4. Contact Viasat to complain about congestion—document slow speeds with speed tests (timestamp, speed, plan tier). Call customer service, escalate to technical support. Viasat may upgrade beam capacity if enough customers complain from same beam. Success rate low (capacity upgrades expensive), but complaints create visibility.
  5. Switch to Starlink or wired alternative—if beam congestion persistent and Viasat unresponsive, switch ISPs. Starlink $120/month provides 100-200 Mbps consistently (not congested). Cable, fiber, 5G Home Internet also uncongested vs. satellite. Calculate Viasat ETF ($300-500) vs. suffering 6-24 months of congestion—often worth paying penalty.
  6. Understand beam congestion unfixable by customer—cannot change beam assignment, cannot prioritize without Unleashed Plus upgrade. Viasat overselling business model. Beam capacity shared resource—heavy neighbors degrade your experience. No individual solution except switching ISPs or paying premium tier.

Want to cancel Viasat to switch to Starlink or other ISP but facing $300-500 early termination fee for remaining contract months

Cause: Viasat requires 24-month contract to subsidize satellite dish/modem equipment ($300 retail). ETF compensates Viasat for lost revenue and equipment investment. ETF starts $500, declining $20/month served. Month 12: $260 ETF remaining. Month 18: $140. Designed to lock customers in through equipment financing.

  1. Calculate switching value vs. ETF cost—if Starlink available now, paying ETF immediately costs $300-500 but gains 12-24 months superior service. Example: 10 months into Viasat, ETF $300. Starlink $120/month vs. Viasat $113/month = $7/month difference (minimal), but Starlink enables gaming, HD streaming, video calls worth $50-100/month subjective value. Switching often rational despite ETF.
  2. Wait to minimize ETF if not urgent—if alternative ISP installation delayed or usage tolerable, wait months to reduce ETF. Month 18 ($140 ETF) vs. month 6 ($380 ETF) saves $240. Balance wait time vs. suffering poor service. If Starlink installing in 8 weeks, waiting may align with lower ETF.
  3. Negotiate with Viasat retention department—call Viasat cancellation, explain Starlink or cable available offering better service. Retention may waive/reduce ETF to keep customer. Success rate 20-30%—some customers report $100-200 ETF reductions or free equipment upgrades (Unleashed Plus discount). Worth attempting before paying full ETF.
  4. Check new ISP contract buyout offers—some cable companies, Starlink (rare), offer contract buyout promotions reimbursing up to $500 ETF. Submit Viasat final bill showing ETF; new provider issues credit after 90 days service. Not common but occasionally available. Call prospective ISP sales to ask.
  5. Coordinate new service install before canceling—order Starlink/cable/fiber before canceling Viasat to avoid internet downtime. Wait for new service installed and verified working, then cancel Viasat same day. 1-2 months overlap ($120-240 dual payments) avoids gap. Important for remote work, online school.
  6. Return equipment promptly to avoid fees—Viasat requires modem return within 45 days of cancellation. Non-returned equipment charged $300-400 additional (separate from ETF). Follow return instructions, obtain tracking number, save confirmation. Dish may also need return (verify with Viasat)—failure to return adds $300-700 total fees.

Viasat History

Key milestones in Viasat development and network expansion.

1986

Viasat founded as Viasat Inc. in Carlsbad, California by Mark Dankberg and three engineers. Initially focused on satellite communication technologies for military and government applications. Early contracts with US Department of Defense for secure satellite terminals.

2000

Viasat enters consumer satellite internet market, acquiring WildBlue (early satellite ISP) assets and technology. Launched residential broadband services targeting rural America underserved by cable/DSL. Competed with HughesNet (DirecWay) as second major GEO satellite consumer ISP.

2011

Launch of ViaSat-1 satellite (140 Gbps capacity), highest-capacity commercial satellite at the time. Enabled Exede brand residential internet service with 12-15 Mbps speeds and 10-40 GB data caps. Subscriber growth to 400,000+ customers. Established Viasat as HughesNet's primary competitor.

2014

Viasat expands into aviation market, providing in-flight WiFi for airlines. Contracts with United Airlines, JetBlue, American Airlines for satellite-based passenger internet. Aviation becomes major revenue stream alongside residential broadband. Brand recognition increases via airline passenger experience.

2017

Launch of ViaSat-2 satellite (300 Gbps capacity), tripling ViaSat-1's capacity. Introduced Viasat Unlimited plans (rebranded from Exede) with 'unlimited' data and 480p video throttling model, replacing hard GB caps. Speeds increased to 25-100 Mbps. Subscriber base peaks ~800,000.

2021

Starlink LEO satellite disruption begins—Viasat loses 10-15% subscribers annually 2021-2024 as rural customers switch to Starlink's 100-200 Mbps, 20-40ms latency, unlimited HD streaming at $120/month. Viasat unable to compete on latency (600-700ms GEO vs. 20-40ms LEO). Subscriber decline accelerates.

2022

Viasat introduces Unleashed Plus tier with 150 Mbps speeds and network priority at $150/month, attempting to differentiate from HughesNet and retain high-value customers. Also launches integrated Viasat Voice (VoIP phone service) to bundle services. Subscriber retention challenged by Starlink's performance advantage.

2023

Viasat acquires Inmarsat (UK satellite operator) for $7.3 billion, massive M&A expanding government, maritime, aviation markets. Strategic shift from residential consumer broadband to B2B services (military, airlines, shipping). Inmarsat brings L-band mobile satellite services complementing Viasat's Ka-band. Residential broadband deprioritized in corporate strategy.

2023

Launch of ViaSat-3 Americas satellite (1+ Tbps capacity, largest commercial satellite ever built). Three-satellite ViaSat-3 constellation (Americas, EMEA, Asia-Pacific) provides global coverage. Despite capacity increase, residential subscriber decline continues—Starlink LEO technology fundamentally superior to GEO for latency-sensitive residential use. ViaSat-3 targeted more at aviation/maritime.

2026

Viasat serves approximately 700,000 residential subscribers (down 12% from 800,000 peak in 2020). Starlink captured 25-30% of addressable rural market Viasat previously served. Company focuses on B2B: airline WiFi (largest share of US in-flight internet), military communications, maritime broadband (cruise ships, cargo vessels). Residential broadband maintained but not growth focus. Viasat-3 capacity supports aviation expansion more than residential. GEO satellite residential model obsolete vs. Starlink's LEO; Viasat competes on price ($100-150 vs. $120) but can't overcome latency/quality gap.

Test Your Viasat Speed

Run a free speed test to check if Viasat delivers the speeds you are paying for. Test during peak evening hours for the most realistic results. Compare your results against Viasat advertised speeds above.

Viasat Speed Test FAQ

How fast is Viasat internet?

Viasat offers download speeds up to 150 Mbps on premium plans and up to 100 Mbps on standard plans. Upload speeds are typically 3-5 Mbps. Like all geostationary satellite services, Viasat has high latency of approximately 600-700ms due to satellite distance. Actual speeds vary by location, time of day, and network congestion. Viasat is faster than HughesNet but slower than Starlink.

Does Viasat have data caps?

Viasat Unleashed plans advertise unlimited data without hard caps. However, to manage network capacity, Viasat limits video streaming to 480p (DVD quality) rather than HD or 4K. During periods of network congestion, heavy users may experience slower speeds. This soft management approach differs from HughesNet's hard data caps that throttle speeds after a specific GB limit. Heavy streamers wanting HD quality should consider Starlink.

How do I test my Viasat speed?

Use the speed test tool on this page to measure your Viasat download speed, upload speed, and ping latency. Expect latency of 600-700ms due to geostationary satellite distance - this is normal. For accurate speed readings, connect via ethernet cable and close background applications. Test at different times as speeds vary with satellite beam utilization.

How does Viasat compare to Starlink?

Starlink outperforms Viasat in speed and latency. Starlink offers 50-220 Mbps vs Viasat's 25-150 Mbps, and dramatically lower latency (20-40ms vs 600-700ms). Starlink supports HD/4K streaming while Viasat limits video to 480p. Starlink costs $120/month vs Viasat's $100-150/month. If Starlink is available in your area, it provides a superior experience. Viasat may be preferred in areas where Starlink has waitlists or poor coverage.

Last verified: February 6, 2026

Data source: Viasat official website, Viasat Inc. investor relations