Viasat logo

Viasat

GEO Available

Satellite internet for home and business

Max Speed

150 Mbps

Latency

500–700ms

From

$69.99/mo

Satellites

4

Visit Viasat
Data last verified 2026-03-28. Speeds are advertised ranges - actual performance varies by location and congestion. 3 sources cited below.

About Viasat

"Connect the world by making the internet accessible, affordable, and available to everyone, everywhere."

Viasat was founded in 1986 as a defense communications company and expanded into consumer satellite internet in the 2000s. The company has a pattern of launching world-record-capacity satellites: ViaSat-1 (2011) was the highest-capacity commercial satellite at launch, and ViaSat-2 (2017) reclaimed that title.

The ViaSat-3 constellation is designed for global coverage across three geostationary satellites covering the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. The Americas satellite (F1) launched in April 2023 but experienced a significant antenna deployment failure, operating at reduced capacity. ViaSat-3 F2 launched in November 2025 to provide full Americas coverage while F1 is repositioned to EMEA. Viasat's landmark 2023 acquisition of Inmarsat, a pioneer in maritime and aviation connectivity, dramatically expanded its enterprise business and global footprint.

Viasat's Unleashed plans, introduced in 2024, removed hard data caps - addressing one of the most persistent customer complaints about satellite internet. While GEO latency remains a fundamental limitation, Viasat continues to invest in capacity and coverage expansion.

Specifications

Download Speed
25–150 Mbps
Upload Speed
3–10 Mbps
Latency
500–700ms
Data Cap
Unlimited (plan-dependent)
Orbit Type
GEO
Constellation
4 satellites
Parent Company
Viasat Inc.
Subscribers
~143K fixed broadband (Q3 FY26, sharply declining); ~2M total including aviation/maritime/govt via Inmarsat

For context: Netflix 4K needs ~25 Mbps, video calls need ~5 Mbps. Latency under 100ms is good for gaming; under 300ms works for video calls. GEO satellites (600ms+) have noticeable delay on interactive tasks.

Hardware & Installation

Equipment Cost
TBD
Note
Equipment lease $15/mo; 12-month contract on Essential plan
Dish Type
Parabolic dish antenna
Installation Required
Professional install required
Portable
No

Pricing Plans

Plan Price Download Upload Data Cap
Essentials $69.99/mo 50 Mbps 5 Mbps Unlimited
Unleashed $99.99/mo 150 Mbps 10 Mbps Unlimited

Timeline

Completed Planned

  1. Viasat founded as a defense communications company

  2. ViaSat-1 launched - world's highest-capacity satellite

  3. ViaSat-2 launched

  4. ViaSat-3 Americas satellite launched

  5. Inmarsat acquisition completed

  6. Unleashed plans introduced - no hard data caps

  7. ViaSat-3 F2 launched

  8. ViaSat-3 EMEA satellite (F1 repositioned) in progress

Customer Sentiment

Mixed

5,000+ reviews

Viasat reviews mirror HughesNet's GEO challenges - high latency and speed throttling during congestion are the primary complaints. The Unleashed plans have improved sentiment by removing hard data caps. Customers appreciate the competitive pricing and free equipment, but the 2-year contract and professional installation requirement draw criticism.

Read reviews on Trustpilot →

Sentiment verified 2026-03-24. Reviews change - check the platform for latest.

Availability

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.

🇺🇸 United States

Essentials $39.99/mo intro ($69.99/mo regular); Unleashed $69.99/mo intro ($99.99/mo regular)

Available

Pros & Cons

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is Viasat satellite internet?
Viasat offers download speeds ranging from 25 to 150 Mbps, with upload speeds of 3 to 10 Mbps. As a GEO satellite provider, latency is typically 500 to 700ms. Actual speeds depend on your location, time of day, and network congestion.
How much does Viasat cost per month?
Viasat plans start at $69.99/mo and go up to $99.99/mo for premium tiers. Equipment costs have not been announced yet. Professional installation is required, which may have an additional fee.
What latency does Viasat have?
Viasat has a latency range of 500 to 700ms. As a GEO (Geostationary Orbit) provider, latency is higher due to the 35,786 km orbit altitude. Video calls and browsing work but real-time gaming is challenging.
Is Viasat available in my country?
Viasat is currently available in 1 country. 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. We feature detailed availability data for 1 country on this site. Visit the official Viasat website for the latest coverage information.
Does Viasat require professional installation?
Yes, Viasat requires professional installation. A technician will set up and align the Parabolic dish antenna at your location. Equipment costs have not been announced. Contact Viasat or an authorized dealer to schedule installation.

Sources & Methodology

All data on this page is sourced from official company announcements, regulatory filings, and independent speed-test databases. Speeds shown are advertised ranges - actual performance varies by location, time of day, and network congestion. We do not fabricate specifications: where data is unavailable, we show "TBD."

  1. [1] Viasat official website - accessed 2026-03-24
  2. [2] Viasat investor relations - ViaSat-3 deployment updates - accessed 2026-03-24
  3. [3] Inmarsat acquisition completion filing (SEC) - accessed 2026-03-24