What is Viasat Internet?

Viasat is a residential and small business satellite internet service provider. It’s built to deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity to homes and businesses in rural and remote areas where cable, fiber, or DSL aren’t available.

Viastar.link FAQs

Viasat is ideal for people in rural or remote areas who can’t get cable or fiber internet. It’s well-suited for everyday activities like web browsing, email, online banking, video calls, streaming, and remote work.

Where is Viasat available?

Viasat provides coverage across all 50 U.S. states, reaching nearly 100% of the country. Availability and plan options vary by location. Enter your address on our site to see what’s available in your area.

How does satellite internet work?

When you visit a website, your request travels from your device to the Viasat modem, then up to a satellite in orbit, down to a ground gateway station, and out to the internet. The response travels back the same way — all in a fraction of a second. It’s a fully wireless connection that requires no ground-based infrastructure at your home.

Is Viasat better than HughesNet?

Viasat generally offers faster speeds and truly unlimited data plans compared to HughesNet, which uses soft data caps and slower speeds. Viasat also has lower latency. That said, the best choice depends on your location and what plans are available at your address.

How does Viasat compare to Starlink?

Starlink uses low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which gives it lower latency and potentially faster speeds. Viasat uses geostationary satellites at higher orbit. Viasat tends to be more price-competitive at entry-level tiers, and its coverage footprint is well-established. Both are solid options for rural internet — we’re happy to help you compare based on your address.

What plans does Viasat offer?

Viasat currently offers the Viasat Unleashed plan with unlimited high-speed data, plus Essentials and Unlimited 12 plans with a set amount of high-speed data and unlimited standard data. Plans, speeds, and pricing vary by location.

What speeds can I expect with Viasat?

Viasat offers download speeds from 25 Mbps up to 150 Mbps depending on your plan and location. Speeds are “up to” and are not guaranteed — actual performance will vary based on network congestion and other factors.

Does Viasat have data caps?

The Viasat Unleashed plan includes unlimited data with no hard caps. Other plans include a set amount of high-speed data per month. Once that’s used, you shift to unlimited standard data, which may be slower during peak congestion periods. You’re never cut off entirely, and there are no overage charges.

What happens when I use up my high-speed data?

You roll over to unlimited standard data automatically. Standard data speeds may be reduced during times of network congestion, but you can still browse, email, stream audio, and use social media. You can also purchase additional high-speed data at any time.

Does Viasat offer no-contract plans?

Yes. The Viasat Unleashed plan is month-to-month with no contract and no early termination fee. Essentials plans require a 12-month commitment, and Unlimited plans require a 24-month commitment.

Are there early termination fees?

Unleashed plans have no early termination fee. For plans with a contract, you may be charged $15 per remaining month if you cancel early. For example, canceling 14 months into a 24-month contract would result in a $210 fee.

Does Viasat offer a price lock?

Viasat’s annual plans include a price lock for the first 12 months, meaning your rate won’t increase during that period.

When does my data usage reset?

For plans with a monthly high-speed data allowance, your data resets on your billing date each month. Unleashed plans do not have a monthly reset because data is truly unlimited.

Can I add more high-speed data if I run out?

Yes. You can purchase additional high-speed data at any time through the My Viasat app or online portal. Unused purchased data does not roll over to the next billing cycle.

What does installation involve?

A Viasat-certified technician will come to your home, install the satellite dish, set up your modem, and activate your service. Typical installations take 2–3 hours. You’ll need to be home (someone 18 or older must be present) and the technician will need access to your property.

What equipment do I need?

You’ll need a Viasat satellite dish, a transceiver and bracket, and a Viasat modem/gateway. All equipment is provided by Viasat. The modem includes a built-in wireless router, so you don’t need a separate router to set up Wi-Fi.

How big is the satellite dish?

The dish is approximately 30 inches wide by 28 inches tall — similar in size to a standard satellite TV dish.

Does the dish have to go on my roof?

Not necessarily. The dish can be mounted on the roof, an exterior wall, under the eave, or on a ground pole near the home. Your technician will help determine the best placement.

Can I install the dish myself?

No. Professional installation is required. The dish must be precisely aimed at the satellite, and all connections need to be verified by a trained technician to ensure proper service.

Does my property need a clear view of the sky?

Yes. The dish needs a clear line of sight to the southern sky. Trees, buildings, or other obstructions can affect signal quality. Your technician will assess this during installation.

Will my HOA or landlord allow a Viasat dish?

Satellite dishes are protected under the FCC’s Over-the-Air Reception Devices (OTARD) Rule, which treats the Viasat dish the same as a satellite TV dish. In most cases, landlords and HOAs cannot prohibit it. Check with your specific HOA or landlord to confirm before scheduling installation.

Do I rent or buy the equipment?

You can either lease the equipment monthly or purchase it outright. Leasing avoids upfront costs; buying eliminates the monthly equipment fee over time.

Is there a warranty on Viasat equipment?

Yes. Viasat will replace defective equipment within the first 90 days of service.

What is latency, and is it a problem with satellite internet?

Latency is the time it takes data to travel from your device to its destination and back. Because geostationary satellites orbit at high altitude, satellite internet has more latency than cable or fiber. For most everyday activities — browsing, streaming, email, video calls — it’s not a significant issue. It can be noticeable in fast-paced online gaming or certain VPN setups.

Can I stream video on Viasat?

Yes. Viasat supports video streaming on services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and others. Performance will vary based on your plan and network congestion. Full-time heavy streaming as a cable TV replacement may not be ideal on entry-level plans.

Can I use Viasat for video calls and remote work?

Yes. Viasat supports platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet for video conferencing. It’s a viable work-from-home solution for most office tasks.

Can I play video games on Viasat?

It depends on the game. Turn-based, single-player, and games with less time-sensitive online elements generally work fine. Fast-paced multiplayer action games that require very low latency may perform poorly. Keep in mind that game downloads and updates count toward your data usage.

Can I use a VPN with Viasat?

You can, but performance may be reduced. SSL-based VPNs typically work better than others. If you rely heavily on a VPN for work, check with your IT team before committing to a plan.

Does weather affect my Viasat service?

Heavy rain, snow, or severe storms can temporarily affect signal quality. This is true of all satellite internet providers. In most cases, interruptions are brief.

Will Viasat work with my existing email account?

Yes. Viasat is compatible with Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and any other web-based or email client you already use.

What is Viasat Voice?

Viasat Voice is an add-on home phone service that runs over your Viasat internet connection using VoIP technology. Calls do not count against your data allowance.

What features does Viasat Voice include?

Viasat Voice includes voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, call screening, do not disturb, simultaneous ring, and find me/follow me. You can also forward calls to a mobile number and access voicemail remotely.

Can I keep my existing phone number?

In most areas, yes. You can transfer your current phone number to Viasat Voice. Call us to confirm your number is eligible for transfer.

Does Viasat Voice work during a power outage?

Viasat offers a backup battery option for the modem to keep your voice service running during a power outage. Ask about this add-on when setting up service.