Viasat Internet Availability

If you’ve ever gone stargazing and noticed a moving star that suddenly disappears, you might think it’s a UFO, but chances are it’s a satellite reflecting sunlight from over 22,000 miles away. That might not fit your uncle’s alien conspiracy theories, but it’s still an awe-inspiring piece of human engineering.

Viasat uses satellites like these to beam internet service to 327 million people in all 50 states, as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. With all this coverage, Viasat ranks as the second-largest satellite internet provider in the U.S. in terms of availability.

Viasat download speeds top out at 150 Mbps, which is slower than the max speed of most of its terrestrial competitors, but keep in mind that Viasat's signals go to space and back (which isn’t a short journey). Pricewise, Viasat internet plans start at $69.99 per month, though prices may change based on current Viasat deals and promotions.

Viasat Internet Connections

Viasat Internet Contracts and Data Caps

It’s easy to ignore the wall of legalese standing between you and your precious Netflix time, but the next season of your favorite thriller can wait a tick. Before you commit to any internet provider, it’s important to take a few minutes to understand what you’re getting into.

While Viasat still offers some contract options for its Bronze, Silver, and Gold plans, you can get Viasat Unleashed now in many areas to get no contracts or data caps with your plan. If that's not available in your region, you may need to sign a contract with Viasat. If so, we put together the following pros and cons of signing a contract with Viasat to guide you through the process:

Why You Might Want to Sign a Contract With Viasat Internet

Entering into a long-term contract with Viasat shouldn’t make you feel like you’re signing your life away. In fact, there are some distinct advantages to a long-term contract: 

Why You Might Not Want to Sign a Contract With Viasat Internet 

There are upsides and downsides to everything in this world, and a contract with Viasat is no exception. As you’ll see, there are a few disadvantages to signing a contract with Viasat:

Whether it’s Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or CBS All Access, our favorite streaming services are all designed to keep us watching. An episode finishes, and before we have time to think, we’re back in the thick of it with our favorite protagonists. There’s a temptation to just stream our favorite shows 24/7, but you might not want to — for a reason other than your sanity or your personal hygiene. Your internet provider might not allow it because of something called data caps.

Because internet service providers have limited capacity to handle traffic on their network, they impose limits on the amount of data users can consume each month. This restriction is especially true for Viasat because expanding the size of their network requires a bit more than laying new cable. Viasat literally has to attach a new satellite to a rocket and send it miles into the Earth’s exosphere. 

However, since network congestion is more common with satellite connections, Viasat doesn’t impose hard data caps on its users. This situation means that if you go over your allotted monthly data, you won’t be charged a fee. Instead, you’ll experience slower internet while Viasat prioritizes users who haven’t gone over their monthly allotment yet.

Viasat Internet Data Caps

Viasat Internet Customer Service

We often take the internet for granted, but on reflection, it’s kind of miraculous. Tons of technology has to work just right so we can comment on baby photos on Facebook. And when the internet slows down or stops working, we don’t want to wait until said babies are potty-trained to get back online. This point is where good customer service is irreplaceable. 

As a satellite provider, Viasat isn't included in many of the national surveys of internet providers, as they tend to focus on wired technologies. However, Viasat has a history of proactively responding to customer issues even when the occasional billing error or service disruption occurs. Overall, based on our research, we found Viasat to be a reputable company in this regard. In short, you don’t become one of the best satellite companies in the U.S. for nothing.

If your plan is acting up, Viasat offers various methods for you to seek customer assistance. Depending on your personal preference, you can contact them via telephone hotline, chat, email, or even directly via text message.

The Value of Viasat Internet

When it comes to Viasat, there are a lot of intricacies, including contracts, fees, plan options, and soft data caps. To help you sort through all these subtleties, here’s a list of pros and cons of Viasat internet:

For many people, Viasat is a shining light in a sea of darkness, where traditional wired internet providers don’t reach. While there are some drawbacks to satellite internet, Viasat offers a happy middle ground with no hard data caps, relatively quick speeds, and the option to bundle your internet. If you live in a remote or rural area and need internet to keep you connected to the outside world, then we recommend Viasat as one of the best satellite internet providers money can buy.