Head-to-Head Comparison
HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat)
Side-by-side comparison of speeds, latency, pricing, coverage, and hardware - updated 2026-03-28.
Data sourced from FCC filings, official specs, and independent speed tests.
The Verdict
OneWeb (Eutelsat) wins for most users with 50-195 Mbps vs 25-100 Mbps and lower latency (30-70ms vs 600-650ms). HughesNet counters with more affordable pricing (from $40-$95/mo).
Winner for most users
OneWeb (Eutelsat)
Affordable satellite internet for rural America
Max Speed
100 Mbps
Latency
600-650ms
From
$40-$95/mo
Satellites
3
LEO connectivity for enterprise and government
Max Speed
195 Mbps
Latency
30-70ms
From
TBD
Satellites
654
HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat) - Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | HughesNet | OneWeb (Eutelsat) |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 25-100 Mbps | 50-195 Mbps Winner |
| Upload Speed | 3-5 Mbps | 10-32 Mbps Winner |
| Latency Lower is better | 600-650ms | 30-70ms Winner |
| Starting Price Lower is better | $40-$95/mo Winner | TBD |
| Data Caps | Some plans capped | Unlimited Winner |
| Equipment Cost Lower is better | TBD | TBD |
| Installation | Professional required | Professional required |
| Portable | No | No |
| Orbit Type | GEO | LEO |
| Constellation | 3 in orbit / 3 planned | 654 in orbit / 654 planned Winner |
| Countries Available | 1 country | 50+ countries Winner |
| Status | Available now | Available now |
Speed Comparison - HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat)
OneWeb (Eutelsat) offers faster download speeds at 50-195 Mbps compared to HughesNet's 25-100 Mbps. That is up to 2x faster at the high end.
Upload speeds: HughesNet 3-5 Mbps vs OneWeb (Eutelsat) 10-32 Mbps. Speeds are advertised ranges and vary by location, time of day, and congestion.
Latency Comparison - HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat)
OneWeb (Eutelsat) has significantly lower latency at 30-70ms vs HughesNet's 600-650ms - roughly 12.5x lower. This is primarily due to LEO vs GEO orbit differences. HughesNet's high latency makes real-time activities like gaming and video calls noticeably laggy.
Lower latency is better. Under 80ms is good for gaming. Under 300ms works for video calls. GEO satellites (35,786 km) have 600ms+ latency due to signal travel time. LEO satellites (550 km) achieve 20-60ms.
Pricing Comparison - HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat)
HughesNet starts at $40/mo. OneWeb (Eutelsat) has not announced consumer pricing - it may be enterprise-only or is still in development.
HughesNet Plans
Lease $14.99-$19.99/mo or purchase $100-$450; 2-year contract required
OneWeb (Eutelsat) Plans
Enterprise pricing through authorized partners
Coverage & Availability - HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat)
OneWeb (Eutelsat) has broader availability with service in 50+ countries vs HughesNet's 1. Full 654-satellite constellation complete. Global coverage. 440 next-gen satellites ordered (Jan-Feb 2026, €1B financing, first 100-sat batch delivery end 2026). $5.8B debt refinancing completed March 6, 2026. Also contracted 264 IRIS2 LEO satellites at €2.1B for EU sovereign connectivity program.
Showing featured countries on our site. OneWeb (Eutelsat) operates in 50+ countries total.
HughesNet only (1)
OneWeb (Eutelsat) only (17)
Hardware & Installation - HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat)
Both providers require professional installation.
HughesNet
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Parabolic dish antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Lease $14.99-$19.99/mo or purchase $100-$450; 2-year contract required
OneWeb (Eutelsat)
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Electronically steered antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Enterprise pricing through authorized partners
Pros & Cons
HughesNet
Advantages
- + Lowest starting price ($40/mo Lite plan)
- + 99% US coverage - serves extremely remote areas
- + Fusion plan has no hard data cap
- + Long operational track record (since 2012)
Limitations
- - High latency (600ms+) - unsuitable for gaming or real-time video calls
- - Data caps on Lite, Select, and Elite plans
- - 2-year contract with early termination fee; equipment lease fees on top
- - US-only - no international availability
- - Professional installation required
OneWeb (Eutelsat)
Advantages
- + Complete LEO constellation - fully operational globally
- + Low latency (30–70ms) competitive with Starlink
- + Strong government and military contracts
- + Next-gen 5G-integrated satellites in production
Limitations
- - No direct consumer offerings - enterprise only
- - Pricing not publicly available
- - Requires authorized partner for access
- - Smaller constellation than Starlink
Which Should You Choose? HughesNet vs OneWeb (Eutelsat)
Gaming
OneWeb (Eutelsat)OneWeb (Eutelsat)'s 30-70ms latency supports gaming. HughesNet's 600-650ms is too high for real-time games.
Streaming
OneWeb (Eutelsat)OneWeb (Eutelsat)'s higher max speeds (50-195 Mbps) support more simultaneous streams, though HughesNet (25-100 Mbps) also handles 4K fine.
Budget
HughesNetHughesNet starts at $40/mo. OneWeb (Eutelsat) has not announced pricing.
Rural / Remote
OneWeb (Eutelsat)OneWeb (Eutelsat) is available in 50+ countries vs HughesNet's 1, offering broader rural coverage globally.
Business
OneWeb (Eutelsat)OneWeb (Eutelsat) offers dedicated business plans. HughesNet does not have specific business tiers.
Mobile / RV
NeitherNeither HughesNet nor OneWeb (Eutelsat) supports portable use. Both require fixed installations.