Viasat Internet vs. Hosted America
For customers in remote areas or rural regions, finding dependable internet access can be a real challenge. Viasat Internet Service is one of the leading satellite internet providers, known for serving rural households where cable or fiber may not reach. On the other hand, Hosted America is bringing next-generation fiber-optic technology directly to communities, offering reliable, ultra-fast service without the drawbacks of satellite internet.
Below is a complete breakdown of Viasat and Hosted America to help you compare features, speed, reliability, and value—especially if you’re considering upgrading your internet solution.
Viasat Service Features
Viasat offers satellite internet service by connecting homes via orbiting satellites, allowing users in even the most remote areas to get online.
Key features of Viasat Internet plans include:
- Availability virtually anywhere in the U.S., ideal for rural internet users without access to cable or fiber.
- Multiple satellite internet service plans with varying speeds and data allowance options.
- Viasat Voice offers optional phone service as a VoIP add-on.
- Standard professional installation included for new customers.
- Optional router and modem available through equipment lease.
- 24/7 support via viasat.com and phone for Viasat customers.
- Satellite internet plans now include Viasat Unleashed Plan, which aims to remove data caps—but throttling may still occur during network congestion.
Designed to support basic video streaming, email, and browsing.
Challenges with Viasat Internet
- Because Viasat is a satellite internet service, connections experience high latency due to signals traveling thousands of miles to satellites—making real-time applications like gaming or Zoom calls difficult.
- Plans come with limited data usage caps or “soft” data allowance limits, after which speeds are significantly slowed.
- Even with the Viasat Unleashed Plan, network congestion may reduce usable speeds.
- Streaming high-definition video or using smart home devices can be frustrating due to buffering and latency.
- Equipment lease fees and lease fees for routers and modems increase the monthly bill.
- Upload speeds are extremely limited compared to fiber.
- Reliability suffers in bad weather, a common challenge for all satellite internet providers.
- Compared to other internet companies, pricing is high for the level of performance provided.
What Does Hosted America Fiber Internet Offer?
Hosted America is an internet service provider that provides 100% fiber internet, delivering the fastest and most reliable connection available. Unlike Viasat’s satellite internet, Hosted America’s fiber internet is a wired broadband service that delivers symmetrical speeds (equal download speeds and upload speeds), making it ideal for streaming, remote work, and online gaming.
Hosted America Fiber Internet Perks
- Fast, reliable high-speed internet: Up to 2 Gbps with no slowdowns
- Future-proof infrastructure: Fiber is designed to handle growing bandwidth demands
- Low latency: Ideal for streaming live TV, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Paramount Plus, online gaming, and Zoom calls
- No data caps: Unlimited data with no throttling or overage fees
- Locally-based support: Raleigh, NC-based customer service team for easy activation and continued support
- Stronger connection than satellite: Not affected by network congestion
- Reliability: Hosted America has maintained minimal outages, with most caused by planned maintenance.
Hosted America Fiber Internet Limitations
- Higher starting price: $89.99/month for fiber compared to Viasat’s $49.99/month for satellite (which has slower speeds than fiber).
- Limited availability: Fiber infrastructure is still expanding, so it may not be available in all areas
Viasat vs. Hosted America Fiber: The Final Verdict
Viasat Internet Service fills a vital gap by providing internet access where other internet options are limited. But as far as performance goes, satellite internet still falls short—especially for modern households that rely on real-time applications, streaming, and smart devices. Even unlimited data isn’t truly unlimited with data usage throttling and data allowance rules.
By contrast, Hosted America offers blazing-fast, low-latency fiber-optic internet with symmetrical speeds and no data caps. Their 100% fiber-to-the-premise model delivers the kind of consistent performance that satellite just can’t match—whether you’re streaming, gaming, working remotely, or managing a smart home.
If you have access to Hosted America, it’s more than an upgrade—it’s a transformation. No satellites, no lag, no guesswork—just fast, reliable internet every time you log on.
See How We Compare to Others
Choosing the right internet connection can be overwhelming with so many options available. Hosted America goes head-to-head with major providers like Starlink, AT&T, Hughesnet, Optimum, and T-Mobile, each offering different technologies and performance levels.
While some providers rely on wi-fi, cable internet, or fixed wireless connections, Hosted America’s 100% fiber network ensures faster speeds, lower latency, and unmatched reliability. Want to see how we compare? Explore our in-depth home internet reviews and FAQs to find the best internet service for your needs.
Residential Internet
Get the upload speeds and download speeds you need for streaming, remote work, and more. Our low-latency home internet plans include:
- 25 Mbps plan
- 100 Mbps plan
- 300 Mbps plan
- 500 Mbps plan
- 1 Gbps/gigabit/gig plan
- 2 Gbps/gigabit/gig plan
Our 2 gig internet plan is the fastest plan we offer to home internet customers, but we’re confident that all our plans will offer you the accessibility you need for your daily life.