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Rural customers now have a new option for internet and TV packages. Hughesnet and Dish TV (both owned by EchoStar) rolled out a slew of new offers Thursday, with savings of $10 a month for any combination you choose — $5 off Dish service and $5 off Huznet.
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when considering Hughesnet – or any other satellite internet plan for this matter. You’ll only get between 100 and 200 GB of priority data each month. Hughesnet will then de-prioritize your data for the rest of the month, meaning your speeds “may be slower than other traffic during high traffic periods”. (The average US household uses 641GB data each month.)
Hughesnet also charges $15 to $20 a month to rent equipment, but you have the option of buying it for $300 to $450 up front. Installation adds another $99 to $200.
Finally, Hughesnet prices increase by $25 per month after your first year, and you’ll have to sign a two-year contract with high fees if you choose to end your service early.
There are three Hughesnet plans to choose from:
- Choose: 50Mbps download, 5Mbps upload speed, 650ms latency, 100GB priority data
- Elite: 100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload speed, 650ms latency, 200GB priority data
- synthesis: 100Mbps download, 5Mbps upload speed, 100ms latency, 200GB priority data
Here’s how the options break down with bundled savings included:
| Meal plan | Hughesnet plan | Total monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| America’s Top 120 ($80) | Choose ($50) | $130 |
| America’s Top 120 ($80) | Elite ($65) | $145 |
| America’s Top 200 ($100) | Choose ($50) | $150 |
| America’s Top 250 ($110) | Choose ($50) | $160 |
| America’s Top 200 ($100) | Elite ($65) | $165 |
| America’s Top 120 ($80) | Fusion ($95) | $175 |
| America’s Top 250 ($110) | Elite ($65) | $175 |
| America’s Top 200 ($100) | Fusion ($95) | $195 |
| America’s Top 250 ($110) | Fusion ($95) | 205 dollars |
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Plus, you have the option to remove local channels from any Dish package and save $12 per month. They can be taken for free with a TV antennaalthough they may find it difficult to catch every channel in rural areas.
Are the Dish and Hughesnet bundles a good deal?
I recommend satellite internet or TV only to people living in rural areas without any other options and that goes for those Dish and Hughesnet packages. Satellite is your last resort if you can’t get cable, fiber, or fixed wireless — and even DSL is usually a better option, too. So if you need satellite and TV, these Dish and Hughesnet packages are as good as you can get.
Starlink is the fastest satellite internet provider, but comes with a hefty $599 upfront equipment cost and $120 per month for its plan. With Starlink speeds and unlimited data, you’ll have no problem adding a live tv streaming service like Hulu Plus Live TV ($77 per month) or YouTube TV ($73). Other satellite internet companies like Hughesnet and Viasat would have difficulty supporting this kind of live streaming service.
Viasat doesn’t offer bundle discounts like Hughesnet and Dish, so you’ll have to pay full price for TV service. And with internet-only prices starting at $100 a month for 25 to 150Mbps, you won’t be adding TV for less than what Dish and Hughesnet offer.
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