Why Mobile Internet Is a Viable Alternative to Satellite Internet for Rural Customers

Residents of rural America have grown accustomed to the ever-present problem of sparse Internet connectivity in rural and remote areas. Many Internet providers have decided not to do business in rural areas because of the lack of infrastructure for broadband and the more risky nature of covering low-population areas. As a result, rural residents have turned to alternatives such as satellite Internet service providers to provide reliable Internet for rural areas.

While the best satellite Internet service providers such as HughesNet have developed a reputation for fast, satisfying performance, satellite Internet has a few inherent problems that make it unsuitable for some customers’ needs. First, satellite Internet has some of the highest levels of latency, second only to dial-up Internet. Because satellite providers rely on satellites in orbit to provide signals to their customers, customers usually experience delays in data transfer since the signals have to travel a long way from outside the atmosphere to a customer’s receiver. Customers looking for a rural Internet service provider suitable for gaming may wish to look at mobile Internet providers such as UbiFi instead, which boasts a latency of less than 75ms.

Secondly, satellite Internet providers often charge irritatingly expensive overage fees, which is problematic for customers who want to use data without any restrictions and reservations. In contrast, mobile Internet providers such as UbiFi often offer unlimited 4G rural data with no data caps or overage fees. If unlimited data and low latency are important selling points for you, you may be better off looking at UbiFi or other mobile providers instead of popular satellite providers such as HughesNet or Xfinity. You may even find a mobile Internet plan that is more affordable for your budget.