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As a consumer, most Americans have many choices when it comes to high speed broadband Internet service for your home or business. Unfortunately, if you happen to live in a rural area, that is too far from a DSL hub and it is not serviced by a local cable service provider yet, then you only have one option for broadband Internet: High speed Internet access via satellite dish. The two recognized satellite Internet providers are HughesNet and WildBlue. We have provided a comparison between the two companies below. Please take a look at HughesNet vs. WildBlue:
| General Overview |
HughesNet | WildBlue |
Total satellite installations in U.S. |
400,000 |
50,000 |
Total satellite installations worldwide |
1,000,000 |
50,000 |
Number of operational satellites |
10 |
1 |
Years providing Satellite Internet service |
10 years |
1 year |
Manufactures satellite system equipment |
Yes |
No |
Manufactures communications satellites |
Yes |
No |
Services U.S. government & U.S. military |
Yes |
No |
Services small to medium business customers |
Yes |
Yes |
Services home-office and residential customers |
Yes |
Yes |
Number of network operations centers (NOC) |
Yes |
No |
Uses Internet Protocol Over Satellite standard (IPos) |
Yes |
No |
System requires customer to install software for normal operation |
Yes |
No |
Limitation on number of computers connected to system |
No |
Yes |
Minimum service commitment |
24 month |
12 month |
System warranty (Parts) |
24 months parts & labor |
12 months parts 90 days labor |
Repair warranty service calls (Labor) |
Free |
$75/hr after 90 days of service |
Fair Access Policy (FAP) Maximum Recover Time |
4-12 Hr refresh |
30 Day refresh |
20 Day return Fee |
$0 |
$79.00 |
30 Day return Refund on hardware |
Yes |
No |
| Plan Overview |
HughesNet Home Plan |
WildBlue Value |
Upfront Cost (after rebates) |
$299.98 |
$299.98 |
$0 Down Install/Equipment Option |
Yes |
No |
Monthly Service |
$59.99 |
$49.99 |
Download Speeds |
1.0 Mbps |
512 Kbps |
Upload Speeds |
128 Kbps |
128 Kbps |
UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs/day |
Yes |
No |
Monthly Upload Threshold |
N/A |
7,500 Mb |
Threshold Reset |
4-12 Hr Refresh |
Max of 30 Days |
Number of emails included |
5 |
5 |
Mailbox Size |
2 GB |
25 Mb |
Included Labor Warranty |
24 Months |
90 Days |
Included Parts Warranty |
24 Months |
12 Months |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 90 Days |
FREE |
FREE |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 24 months |
FREE |
$75/Hr |
|
Plan Overview |
HughesNet Pro Plan |
WildBlue Select |
Upfront Cost (after rebates) |
$299.98 |
$328.95 |
$0 Down Install/Equipment Option |
Yes |
No |
Monthly Service |
$69.99 |
$69.99 |
Download Speeds |
1.2 Mbps |
1.0 Mbps |
Upload Speeds |
200 Kbps |
128 Kbps |
UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs/day |
Yes |
No |
Monthly Upload Threshold |
N/A |
7,500 Mb |
Threshold Reset |
4-12 Hr Refresh |
Max of 30 Days |
Number of emails included |
5 |
5 |
Mailbox Size |
2 GB |
25 Mb |
Included Labor Warranty |
24 Months |
90 Days |
Included Parts Warranty |
24 Months |
12 Months |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 90 Days |
FREE |
FREE |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 24 months |
FREE |
$75/Hr |
| Plan Overview |
HughesNet ProPlus Plan |
WildBlue Pro Pak |
Upfront Cost (after rebates) |
$299.98 |
$328.95 |
$0 Down Install/Equipment Option |
Yes |
No |
Monthly Service |
$79.99 |
$99.99 |
Download Speeds |
1.6 Mbps |
1.5 Mbps |
Upload Speeds |
200 Kbps |
256 Kbps |
UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs/day |
Yes |
No |
Monthly Upload Threshold |
N/A |
5,000 Mb |
Threshold Reset |
4-12 Hr Refresh |
Max of 30 Days |
Number of emails included |
5 |
5 |
Mailbox Size |
2 GB |
25 Mb |
Included Labor Warranty |
24 Months |
90 Days |
Included Parts Warranty |
24 Months |
12 Months |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 90 Days |
FREE |
FREE |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 24 months |
FREE |
$75/Hr |
| Small Office *Wild Blue does not offer plans |
HughesNet Elite Plan |
HugheNet ElitePlus Plan |
Upfront Cost (after rebates) |
$299.98 |
$299.98 |
$0 Down Install/Equipment Option |
Yes |
Yes |
Monthly Service |
$119.99 |
$189.99 |
Download Speeds |
2.0 Mbps |
3.0 Mbps |
Upload Speeds |
300 Kbps |
300 Kbps |
UNLIMITED DOWNLOADS for 3hrs/day |
Yes |
Yes |
Monthly Upload Threshold |
N/A |
N/A |
Threshold Reset |
4-12 Hr Refresh |
4-12 Hr Refresh |
Number of emails included |
10 |
10 |
Mailbox Size |
2 GB |
2 GB |
Included Labor Warranty |
24 Months |
24 Months |
Included Parts Warranty |
24 Months |
24 Months |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 90 Days |
FREE |
FREE |
Warranty Repair Labor cost within 24 months |
FREE |
FREE |
Static IP Options |
Yes |
Yes |
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HNS) is the world’s leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for government, business, and consumers. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed Satellite Internet access services and IP-based networks, which it markets globally under the HughesNet brand. HughesNet is currently the largest satellite broadband Internet access provider to consumers in North America, with approximately 350,000 subscribers and new customers joining at a rate of over 11,000 per month.
HughesNet is the secure Internet solution of choice for 36% of convenience stores nationwide with retail installations in over 50,000 gas station/convenience stores.
HNS’ invention of small satellite dishes over 20 years ago enabled it to provide large enterprises highly reliable, end-to-end communications with guaranteed quality of service regardless of the number of sites or their geographic location. HughesNet currently serves more than 200 large companies in the Fortune 1000, mainly in businesses which have numerous widely dispersed operating units like gas service stations, convenience stores, fast food franchises, automotive dealerships and retail stores. HughesNet leveraged its experience in these areas and adapted its technologies to service growing markets like small business Internet service and residential Internet service.
HughesNet brings high-speed, reliable satellite Internet access to consumers and small businesses throughout North America. HughesNet is by far the largest provider in this sector. Utilizing 12 satellites, HughesNet service coverage is continent-wide, reaching an estimated 10 million or more households and over 3 million small businesses in the U.S. that are not serviced by terrestrial broadband technologies like cable Internet or DSL Internet service. HughesNet. It’s Broadband Unbound—for everyone.
WildBlue was founded in April 1995. WildBlue launched its Internet service in June 2005. WildBlue's second satellite, WildBlue-1, was built by Space Systems/Loral and was launched in late 2006. WildBlue’s second satellite, WildBlue-2, is still in the process of being built by Hughes Communications. WildBlue installed its first customer in June of 2005 and currently they now have approximately 50,000 customers in North America. Initial service was offered in many rural areas of the United States. Service areas are being expanded and rolled out to selected regions of the US. Wild Blue does not currently service the entire USA.
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