Head-to-Head Comparison
Viasat 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
Viasat and SES mPOWER each have distinct strengths. Viasat offers 25-150 Mbps download at 500-700ms latency, while SES mPOWER delivers 100-500 Mbps at 100-150ms. The right choice depends on your priorities: speed, price, latency, or coverage.
Satellite internet for home and business
Max Speed
150 Mbps
Latency
500-700ms
From
$69.99-$99.99/mo
Satellites
4
High-throughput MEO for enterprise
Max Speed
500 Mbps
Latency
100-150ms
From
TBD
Satellites
10
Viasat vs SES mPOWER - Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | Viasat | SES mPOWER |
|---|---|---|
| Download Speed | 25-150 Mbps | 100-500 Mbps Winner |
| Upload Speed | 3-10 Mbps | 20-100 Mbps Winner |
| Latency Lower is better | 500-700ms | 100-150ms Winner |
| Starting Price Lower is better | $69.99-$99.99/mo Winner | TBD |
| Data Caps | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Equipment Cost Lower is better | TBD | TBD |
| Installation | Professional required | Professional required |
| Portable | No | No |
| Orbit Type | GEO | MEO |
| Constellation | 4 in orbit / 4 planned | 10 in orbit / 13 planned Winner |
| Countries Available | 1 country Winner | Not yet available |
| Status | Available now | Available now |
Speed Comparison - Viasat vs SES mPOWER
SES mPOWER offers faster download speeds at 100-500 Mbps compared to Viasat's 25-150 Mbps. That is up to 3.3x faster at the high end.
Upload speeds: Viasat 3-10 Mbps vs SES mPOWER 20-100 Mbps. Speeds are advertised ranges and vary by location, time of day, and congestion.
Latency Comparison - Viasat vs SES mPOWER
SES mPOWER has significantly lower latency at 100-150ms vs Viasat's 500-700ms - roughly 4.8x lower. This is primarily due to MEO 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 SES mPOWER
Viasat starts at $69.99/mo. SES mPOWER 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
SES mPOWER Plans
Enterprise pricing - contact SES or partners
Coverage & Availability - Viasat vs SES mPOWER
Viasat is available in 1 countries. SES mPOWER 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 SES mPOWER
Both providers require professional installation.
Viasat
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Parabolic dish antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
SES mPOWER
- Equipment
- TBD
- Dish Type
- Multi-orbit antenna
- Installation
- Professional
- Portable
- No
Enterprise pricing - contact SES or partners
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
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? Viasat vs SES mPOWER
Gaming
NeitherBoth providers have latency above 100ms (500-700ms 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 Viasat (25-150 Mbps) also handles 4K fine.
Budget
ViasatViasat starts at $69.99/mo. SES mPOWER has not announced pricing.
Rural / Remote
ViasatViasat is available now in 1 country. SES mPOWER has not launched yet.
Business
SES mPOWERSES mPOWER offers dedicated business plans. Viasat does not have specific business tiers.
Mobile / RV
NeitherNeither Viasat nor SES mPOWER supports portable use. Both require fixed installations.