Nov. 22, 2024 6:15 am EST John Keeble/Getty Images If you live in a rural area or somewhere isolated from civilization, it can be hard to come by an internet signal. Even mobile data can be scarce in some areas. When so much of the modern world relies on a fast, stable internet connection, that's problematic. The best solution for such isolated areas is satellite internet. Starlink, the next frontier in internet technology, is the best known name in the industry. It's an internet provider developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX, using a network of thousands of satellites to beam down a broadband internet connection. According to Space.com, there are currently 6,426 satellites in Starlink's network, 6,371 of which are operational. Advertisement Instead of transmitting data across electrical cables that have been previously laid down, Starlink's satellites beam the data down to a user's provided antenna and ground terminal, providing 47% faster speeds than fiber optics. Starlink's reach is vast, reaching the majority of North America (minus Greenland), most of South America, the majority of Europe, all of Australia, and even some portions of Africa, with other locations on a waitlist. But what if a person doesn't want to use Starlink for one reason or another? The good news is that there are some alternatives out there, though they might not be superior to the Musk-owned brand. Starlink set the standard Viasat has good coverage but is on the expensive side Jeppe Gustafsson/Shutterstock If Viasat sounds familiar, it's because it's the internet service provider that gave the FCC an ultimatum. The service boasts availability in rural areas. It might not offer any speeds faster than Starlink's fastest internet (220 Mbps), but it can get up to 150 Mbps, which is faster than anything HughesNet offers. There are also no long-term contracts, letting users cancel their subscription whenever they wish without an early termination fee. When it comes to data caps, Viasat claims there are none, but the fine print spells it out for you. The service allots users 850 GB of data within a 30-day period, and once they use more than that, they may experience slower internet speeds. Advertisement Drawbacks? For starters, some areas get nowhere near the 150 Mbps the company says it's capable of or even as fast as 25 Mbps. Some areas haven't gotten more than 12 Mbps, and Ookla's report shows that in the third quarter of 2023, the median download speed was 34.72 Mbps. There are 48 zip codes within 31 different states that receive 100 Mbps download speeds, and the company is aiming to bring these faster speeds to more areas in the future. Then there's the matter of Viasat's prices. While it depends on where you live, its plans aren't any cheaper than $100 and can stretch as high as $150. If you intend to lease the equipment, that's an additional $15 to your monthly bill. If you plan to use the service for a while, you can pay $250 upfront for the equipment, which is less expensive in the long-term. Advertisement