Head-to-Head Comparison
Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile
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. Upcoming provider specs are based on announced projections.
The Verdict
Viasat is available now with proven real-world performance (25-150 Mbps download, 500-700ms latency), while AST SpaceMobile has not yet launched consumer service. Viasat is the clear choice today if you need satellite internet now. AST SpaceMobile promises up to 120 Mbps but will need time to build out its constellation and prove reliability.
Winner for most users
Viasat
Satellite internet for home and business
Max Speed
150 Mbps
Latency
500-700ms
From
$69.99-$99.99/mo
Satellites
4
Satellite broadband direct to your phone
Max Speed
120 Mbps
Latency
20-40ms
From
TBD
Satellites
6
Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile - Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | Viasat | AST SpaceMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 25-150 Mbps Winner | 10-120 Mbps |
| Upload Speed | 3-10 Mbps | 2-10 Mbps |
| Latency Lower is better | 500-700ms | 20-40ms Winner |
| Starting Price Lower is better | $69.99-$99.99/mo Winner | TBD |
| Data Caps | Unlimited | TBD |
| Equipment Cost Lower is better | TBD | Free Winner |
| Installation | Professional required | Self-install Winner |
| Portable | No | Yes Winner |
| Orbit Type | GEO | LEO |
| Constellation | 4 in orbit / 4 planned | 6 in orbit / 243 planned Winner |
| Countries Available | 1 country Winner | Not yet available |
| Status | Available now Winner | Upcoming |
Speed Comparison - Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile
Viasat offers faster download speeds at 25-150 Mbps compared to AST SpaceMobile's 10-120 Mbps. That is up to 1.3x faster at the high end.
Upload speeds: Viasat 3-10 Mbps vs AST SpaceMobile 2-10 Mbps. Speeds are advertised ranges and vary by location, time of day, and congestion.
Latency Comparison - Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile has significantly lower latency at 20-40ms vs Viasat's 500-700ms - roughly 20x lower. This is primarily due to LEO vs GEO orbit differences. Viasat'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 - Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile
Viasat starts at $69.99/mo. AST SpaceMobile has not announced consumer pricing - it may be enterprise-only or is still in development.
Viasat Plans
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
AST SpaceMobile Plans
No consumer plans announced
No equipment - uses existing smartphones
Coverage & Availability - Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile
Viasat is available in 1 countries. AST SpaceMobile is not yet available for consumers. Primarily US residential. ViaSat-3 F1 launched April 2023 (reduced capacity); F2 launched Nov 2025, entering service May 2026; F3 launch scheduled April 30, 2026. Fleet includes ~23 satellites total via Inmarsat acquisition.
Viasat only (1)
Hardware & Installation - Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile offers self-installation while Viasat requires a professional installer.
Viasat
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Parabolic dish antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
AST SpaceMobile
- Equipment
- Free
- Installation
- Self-install
- Portable
- Yes
No equipment - uses existing smartphones
Pros & Cons
Viasat
Advantages
- + No hard data caps on Unleashed plan
- + No long-term contract on Unleashed plan
- + ViaSat-3 F2 entering service May 2026 - expected to more than double bandwidth
- + Large fleet including Inmarsat for aviation/maritime
Limitations
- - High latency (500ms+) - GEO orbit limitation
- - Speeds throttled during peak congestion
- - ViaSat-3 F1 operating at reduced capacity due to antenna issue
- - Equipment lease fee ($15/mo) on top of service price
- - Professional installation required
AST SpaceMobile
Advantages
- + No dish or special equipment - works with existing phones
- + Partnerships with AT&T, Vodafone, Rakuten
- + Next-gen BlueBirds support up to 120 Mbps per cell
- + Game-changer for dead zones and emergency connectivity
Limitations
- - Beta service not yet publicly available
- - Only 6 satellites in orbit - coverage is intermittent until 45-60 sats deployed
- - Lower speeds than dish-based services
- - Depends entirely on carrier partnerships for consumer access
Which Should You Choose? Viasat vs AST SpaceMobile
Gaming
AST SpaceMobileAST SpaceMobile's 20-40ms latency supports gaming. Viasat's 500-700ms is too high for real-time games.
Streaming
ViasatViasat's 25-150 Mbps easily handles 4K streaming. AST SpaceMobile's lower range (10-120 Mbps) may struggle with multiple streams.
Budget
ViasatViasat starts at $69.99/mo. AST SpaceMobile has not announced pricing.
Rural / Remote
ViasatViasat is available now in 1 country. AST SpaceMobile has not launched yet.
Business
ViasatViasat's higher max speeds (150 Mbps vs 120 Mbps) and 500-700ms latency make it better for business use.
Mobile / RV
AST SpaceMobileAST SpaceMobile supports portable use - great for RVs, boats, and travel. Viasat requires a fixed installation.