Head-to-Head Comparison
HughesNet vs SES mPOWER
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
HughesNet and SES mPOWER each have distinct strengths. HughesNet offers 25-100 Mbps download at 600-650ms latency, while SES mPOWER delivers 100-500 Mbps at 100-150ms. The right choice depends on your priorities: speed, price, latency, or coverage.
Affordable satellite internet for rural America
Max Speed
100 Mbps
Latency
600-650ms
From
$40-$95/mo
Satellites
3
High-throughput MEO for enterprise
Max Speed
500 Mbps
Latency
100-150ms
From
TBD
Satellites
10
HughesNet vs SES mPOWER - Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | HughesNet | SES mPOWER |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 25-100 Mbps | 100-500 Mbps Winner |
| Upload Speed | 3-5 Mbps | 20-100 Mbps Winner |
| Latency Lower is better | 600-650ms | 100-150ms 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 | MEO |
| Constellation | 3 in orbit / 3 planned | 10 in orbit / 13 planned Winner |
| Countries Available | 1 country Winner | Not yet available |
| Status | Available now | Available now |
Speed Comparison - HughesNet vs SES mPOWER
SES mPOWER offers faster download speeds at 100-500 Mbps compared to HughesNet's 25-100 Mbps. That is up to 5x faster at the high end.
Upload speeds: HughesNet 3-5 Mbps vs SES mPOWER 20-100 Mbps. Speeds are advertised ranges and vary by location, time of day, and congestion.
Latency Comparison - HughesNet vs SES mPOWER
SES mPOWER has significantly lower latency at 100-150ms vs HughesNet's 600-650ms - roughly 5x lower. This is primarily due to MEO 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 SES mPOWER
HughesNet starts at $40/mo. SES mPOWER 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
SES mPOWER Plans
Enterprise pricing - contact SES or partners
Coverage & Availability - HughesNet vs SES mPOWER
HughesNet is available in 1 countries. SES mPOWER is not yet available for consumers. US-only service via 3 GEO satellites. Parent EchoStar has formally disclosed going-concern doubt (KPMG warning, Aug 2026 debt maturity, $119M cash vs $1.5B debt). EchoStar sold spectrum to SpaceX ($17B) and AT&T ($22.65B) and is contractually obligated to refer existing HughesNet customers to Starlink.
HughesNet only (1)
Hardware & Installation - HughesNet vs SES mPOWER
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
SES mPOWER
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Multi-orbit antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Enterprise pricing - contact SES or 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
SES mPOWER
Advantages
- + Lower latency than GEO (100–150ms) from MEO orbit
- + Extremely high throughput capacity
- + 10 of 13 satellites already operational
- + Proven enterprise customer base
Limitations
- - Enterprise-only - no consumer plans
- - Higher latency than LEO constellations
- - Small constellation (13 satellites)
- - Requires professional installation
Which Should You Choose? HughesNet vs SES mPOWER
Gaming
NeitherBoth providers have latency above 100ms (600-650ms vs 100-150ms), which is too high for competitive gaming.
Streaming
SES mPOWERSES mPOWER's higher max speeds (100-500 Mbps) support more simultaneous streams, though HughesNet (25-100 Mbps) also handles 4K fine.
Budget
HughesNetHughesNet starts at $40/mo. SES mPOWER has not announced pricing.
Rural / Remote
HughesNetHughesNet is available now in 1 country. SES mPOWER has not launched yet.
Business
SES mPOWERSES mPOWER offers dedicated business plans. HughesNet does not have specific business tiers.
Mobile / RV
NeitherNeither HughesNet nor SES mPOWER supports portable use. Both require fixed installations.