There are a variety of service providers that provide data services and Satellite Internet to large businesses and government agencies. For the small to medium sized business or residential customer, the choices narrow down to a few companies. The two most prominent are HughesNet and Wild Blue.
| General Overview of Satellite Providers | HughesNet | Other Guys |
| Total systems shipped worldwide | 1,900,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Number of operational satellites | 13 | 2 |
| Years providing Satellite Internet service | 13 years | 3 year |
| Years in business operation | 30+ years | 6+ years |
| Manufactures satellite system equipment | Yes | No |
| Manufactures communications satellites | Yes | No |
| Services US government and US military | Yes | No |
| Services large-business, enterprise (Fortune 1000) customers | Yes | No |
| Services small to medium business customers | Yes | Yes |
| Services home-office and residential customers | Yes | Yes |
| Number of network operations centers (NOC) | 3 | 1 |
| Uses Internet Protocol Over Satellite standard (IPos) | Yes | No |
| Minimum service commitment | 24 months | 24 months |
| On site service call warranty | 180 Days | 90 Days |
| Ka / Ku band compatible | Yes | No |
| Fair Access Policy (FAP) Maximum Recover Time | 24 hour refresh | 30 day refresh |
| Satisfaction Guarantee, Return Policy | 30 Day | 30 Day |
| 30 Day return Fee | $0 | $79.00 |
| 30 Day return Refund on hardware | Yes | Yes |
| Option to OWN your equipment | Yes | No |
| Free Shipping Delivery | Yes | No |
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| HughesNet Home vs. Value Plan Comparison (lease) | HughesNet | Other Guys |
| Upfront Cost (after rebate)* | $59.00 | $99.95 |
| Monthly Service | $59.99 | $49.95 |
| Monthly Lease Rental | $9.99 | $5.99 |
| Download Speeds | 1000kbps | 512kbps |
| Upload Speeds | 128kbps | 128kbps |
| Cost per Kbps | $0.059 | $0.078 |
| Shipping Cost | FREE | $24.95 |
| Unlimited downloads (2-7AM, EST) | Yes | No |
| On site service call warranty | 180 days | 90 days |
| 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee | Yes | No |
| Option to OWN your equipment | Yes | No |
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| HughesNet Pro vs. Select Plan Comparison (lease) | HughesNet | Other Guys |
| Upfront Cost (after rebate)* | $49.00 | $99.95 |
| Monthly Service | $69.99 | $69.95 |
| Monthly Lease Rental | $9.99 | $5.99 |
| Download Speeds | 1200kbps | 1000kbps |
| Upload Speeds | 200kbps | 200kbps |
| Cost per Kbps | $0.058 | $0.069 |
| Shipping Cost | FREE | $24.95 |
| Unlimited downloads (2-7AM, EST) | Yes | No |
| On site service call warranty | 180 days | 90 days |
| 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee | Yes | No |
| Option to OWN your equipment | Yes | No |
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| HughesNet ProPlus vs. Pro Pak Comparison (lease) | HughesNet | Other Guys |
| Upfront Cost (after rebate)* | $39.00 | $99.95 |
| Monthly Service | $79.99 | $79.99 |
| Monthly Lease Rental | $9.99 | $5.99 |
| Download Speeds | 1600kbps | 1500kbps |
| Upload Speeds | 250kbps | 256kbps |
| Cost per Kbps | $0.049 | $0.053 |
| Shipping Cost | FREE | $24.95 |
| Unlimited downloads (2-7AM, EST) | Yes | No |
| On site service call warranty | 180 days | 90 days |
| 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee | Yes | No |
| Option to OWN your equipment | Yes | No |
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| HughesNet High-End Elite Plan (lease) | HughesNet | Other Guys |
| Upfront Cost (after rebate)* | $24.00 | N/A |
| Monthly Service | $119.99 | N/A |
| Monthly Lease Rental | $9.99 | N/A |
| Download Speeds | 2000kbps | N/A |
| Upload Speeds | 300kbps | N/A |
| Cost per Kbps | $0.060 | N/A |
| Shipping Cost | FREE | N/A |
| Unlimited downloads (2-7AM, EST) | Yes | N/A |
| On site service call warranty | 180 days | N/A |
| 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee | Yes | N/A |
| Option to OWN your equipment | Yes | N/A |
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| HughesNet High-End ElitePlus Plan (lease) | HughesNet | Other Guys |
| Upfront Cost (after rebate)* | $0.00 | N/A |
| Monthly Service | $189.99 | N/A |
| Monthly Lease Rental | $9.99 | N/A |
| Download Speeds | 3000kbps | N/A |
| Upload Speeds | 300kbps | N/A |
| Cost per Kbps | $0.063 | N/A |
| Shipping Cost | FREE | N/A |
| Unlimited downloads (2-7AM, EST) | Yes | No |
| On site service call warranty | 180 days | N/A |
| 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee | Yes | N/A |
| Option to OWN your equipment | Yes | N/A |
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HughesNet service and system was compiled from www.hns.com and www.HughesNet.com as of 9/02/08. WildBlue service and system data was compiled from www.wildblue.com as of 9/02/08.
* Price listed are shown after mail-in rebate. Please visit
www.eliterebate.com for terms and
conditions.
With our current rebates & promotions, HughesNet is more affordable than ever. Receive $150 mail in rebates on our Pro Plan. or receive $200 back on our ElitePlus Plan. In addition to our rebates receive another $100 when you refer a new customer.
What are you waiting for, Experience the internet the way it was meant to be.
Satellite Internet RebateHughesNet© offers a number of Internet service choices to meet your broadband needs. The Home plan offers download speeds up to 1.0 Mbps, while our fastest plan, ElitePremium, offers download speeds up to 5.0 Mbps.
Listed speeds are available only through Hughes’ new satellite. The majority of subscribers will have access to these faster speeds. However, approximately 3% will not be able to receive these speeds as a result of trees or other obstacles that block the signal from the satellite to the home. In these cases, Hughes can offer slightly slower Internet access via another satellite with download speeds up to 700 Kbps, 1.0 Mbps, and 1.5 Mbps; and upload speeds up to 128 Kbps, 200 Kbps and 200 Kbps for Home, Pro and ProPlus service plans, respectively.
In all cases, actual upload speed will likely be lower than speed indicated during peak hours. See our FAQs for more information on typical speeds. Download speeds may also be temporarily slowed in cases when patterns of system usage exceed the download threshold for an extended period of time.
See the HughesNet Fair Access Policy for more information.
Hughes offers a 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. We want you to be happy with your HughesNet© service. If you are not completely satisfied, just cancel your service within 30 days of activation, and return your HughesNet modem and radio (transmitter) for a refund on the harware.
Hughes offers a 30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee. We want you to be happy with your HughesNet service. If you are not completely satisfied, just cancel your service within 30 days of activation, and return your HughesNet modem and radio (transmitter), but your $ativation fee will not be refunded.
Installation charges and other fees are not refundable. The HughesNet modem and radio must be returned to Hughes, in good condition, within 60 days of your service activation in order to receive the equipment refund. Hughes will provide instructions on how to de-install and return your equipment. You are not required to return, and Hughes is not obligated to de-install or pay for the de-installation of the antenna, mount or any cables.
Hughes warrants to the original buyer that under normal use and wear the equipment used to access the Service (the “Equipment”), which includes the Indoor Unit (satellite modem), Power Supply, and Outdoor Unit (Antenna & Radio Assembly), will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a standard limited warranty term of 24 months* from the date of activation. Any Equipment replaced or repaired under this warranty will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. This warranty is not transferable.
For additional terms and conditions please see HughesNet's Subscriber Agreement
For a limited time get FREE Standard Installation, a $199 value, when you choose a leasing option!
You pay a $99 Activation Fee before rebates, then just $9.99 per month to rent your equipment. A 24-month service commitment is required. Early Termination Fees and other conditions apply. If you cancel your order before installation, you will not be charged.
HughesNet Email Defense offers improved anti-spam and virus protection for all HughesNet (@HughesNet.com) email accounts. Email Defense protects all HughesNet email accounts against unwanted emails (spam) and other email security threats such as computer viruses, worms, and phishing attacks while making the subscribers email experience hassle free. HughesNet Email Defense is free and included with every HughesNet email account.
HughesNet Email Defense uses state-of-the-art technology including stacked layered filters, anti-virus engines, and fraud protection systems to screen both inbound and outbound email messages. With this technology, up to 98% of spam and malicious email content is blocked preventing email threats from entering the subscriber's computer. Although HughesNet Email Defense blocks spam, subscribers remain in control of the email blocking by indicating their spam preferences with an easy-to-use tool that identifies which emails are spam.