Satellite internet is a type of connection that uses a satellite dish to transmit the provider's signal to the user's modem. It has become increasingly popular due to its global coverage, making it the best choice for rural areas where broadband options are often limited. It is estimated that around 43 million people rely solely on satellite internet for their internet connection needs.
Even though satellite internet seems great, there's a catch - DATA CAPS! Most satellite companies impose a ceiling on the amount of data you can use. If you exceed this limit, you either have to pay more for additional data or accept slower speeds.
But don't worry. This article will tell you everything you need to know about satellite internet service providers (ISPs) and what to watch out for with data caps.
What is a Data Cap?
Data is required for every online action, from something as simple as checking your email to streaming movies. The amount of data an action consumes varies depending on the size of the file.
A data cap restricts the amount of internet data you can use monthly. This limit is typically expressed as a maximum number of gigabytes per set price. If users exceed that limit, their service providers may impose penalties in the form of hard or soft data caps.
Hard Data Caps
A hard data cap is a kind of penalty where ISPs completely block data unless an additional fee is paid. Overage fees may be applied to your next billing cycle, or your provider may charge you a one-time fee.
Soft Data Caps
A soft data cap is where an ISPs throttle bandwidth or speed when you exceed the data usage limit. Although throttle speeds generally don't obstruct regular browsing, they can affect more data-intensive activities like streaming or gaming by making them inaccessible or increasing their latency.
Why Do ISPs Have Data Caps
It may be easy to think that data caps are just another way for ISPs to make money. However, they have more technical reasons why those limits exist. One such reason is to manage network congestion and prevent bandwidth hogging by a few users. This way, all users can enjoy good speeds without overloading the network.
How Much Data Do You Need
If you need help determining how much data you need, evaluate your daily internet usage. A smaller data cap should be sufficient if you typically only use the internet for general tasks like checking email or browsing the web. However, if HD streaming and online gaming are part of your routine, you'll likely need at least 600 GB per month.
On the other hand, if multiple people in your household share one internet connection, choosing an unlimited data plan or one with a high data cap may be the best option.
How to Avoid Going Over Your Data Cap
Budgeting your average monthly data usage will help you stay within your data cap. Here are some easy steps to follow:
Monitor Your Usage Regularly
The best way to reduce your data usage is by being conscious of how much you're consuming. Many internet service providers with data caps have a feature in your account that allows you to view your current billing period's data consumption. Some companies even offer mobile apps to keep track of your usage and receive notifications when you're close to using all your data.
Use Compression Browser Extensions and Plug-ins
Many web browsers, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, have data-saving features like compression extensions. By compressing files while loading pages, these extensions can significantly reduce your data usage. They may also save images on websites, so you don't have to re-load them when revisiting the site.
Stick to Low-Resolution Settings
Monitor how often you stream videos and adjust the quality settings as needed. Watch videos at the lowest resolution possible. Video streaming in HD consumes a lot of data, but watching at a lower resolution can help reduce how much data you use.
Change Your Browser and Mobile Settings
You can tweak your browser and mobile settings to prevent auto-play and even disable images from loading if you need to cut down on your bandwidth. You can also install ad-blocking extensions to eliminate pop-up advertisements that often use a lot of data.
Download Content Instead of Streaming
Most streaming apps have the option to download content for offline viewing. This way, rather than having to stream the same data again every time you watch, you only have to download it once. This applies not only to streaming video services like Netflix but also to music-streaming apps such as Spotify.
Keep Your Home Network Secure
You can quickly use up all your data if freeloaders are leeching off of your WiFi connection. Unfortunately, this is a prevalent issue in urban areas where many houses are within range of each other's networks.
If you believe someone is stealing your WiFi connection, the simplest solution is to change the network password. Additionally, viruses may also hijack bandwidth usage. Good thing most computers come equipped with antivirus software to protect against this threat.
What Happens if You Go Over Your Data Cap?
If you use more data than your plan's limit, ISPs impose penalties like data throttling or charging overage fees.
Throttling
If you exceed your monthly data cap, your ISP could slow down your internet speed. This is called "ISP throttling." You may notice reduced speeds if you're getting close to using up all of your data for the month. Things like streaming videos or playing games online might become impossible, and even basic web browsing could be very slow.
Overage Fees
You could be charged expensive overage fees if you use more data than your plan allows. Most ISPs usually bill these charges in blocks of gigabytes. For example, if you go over your monthly plan by 1 GB but the ISP bills for tiers of 50 GB usage, then you would still end up paying for all 50 GB even though you only used 1. The usual fee is $10 for every 50 GB of data.
Why Does Satellite Internet Have Low Data Caps?
Satellite internet has low data caps because providers have limited capacity to deliver fast speeds and large amounts of data. Since the connection is beamed down from a satellite in space, there are physical limitations on how much bandwidth can be transmitted at any given time.
To ensure everyone using the service gets a fair share, providers must impose strict data limits.
Most Trusted Satellite Internet Providers
Hughesnet
All HughesNet's plans include 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds, which is enough for web surfing and TV streaming. If you go over your monthly data limit (which ranges from 15-75 GB), you won't be charged any extra fees. Instead, your internet speed will slow down to 1-3 Mbps until the next billing cycle begins.
If you need more data, Data Tokens are available for purchase at $3 per GB. These tokens don't expire in the month they were purchased, so feel free to save them up for when you really need them.
Viasat
With Viasat satellite internet, you can choose a plan that best fits your needs. It offers monthly plans ranging from $49.99 to $199.99. It provides fast satellite internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps and a data cap of up to 150 GB per month. That is enough to stream your favorite Netflix series in HD daily without reaching your data cap.
And if you do, go over? Instead of being charged extra, your internet speed will get throttled back to 1–5 Mbps, especially during busy online hours.
Starlink
Starlink is changing the internet world by having a 1 TB data cap with speeds reaching up to 500 Mbps. To put it in perspective, you could stream over 10 hours of HD video and play games for 5 hours daily without exceeding the limit.
With plans starting at $100 per month, Starlink guarantees you will never reach a data cap. The availability of Starlink remains extremely limited. Even if Starlink is an option in your area, there may be better options. Starlink is constantly developing, so there are often slowdowns and outages.
The Bottom Line
Since satellite internet providers have limited capacity, they often put low data caps in place. Consequently, people who need to use satellite internet regularly may find it hard to stay within their monthly limit.
The good news is that there are ways you can curb your usage without giving up your beloved streaming services. Additionally, service providers usually offer different plans, so you can pick one that covers your needs the most.
HughesNet offers affordable plans with no price increases down the line. If speed is more important to you than anything else, Viasat might be a better option as it provides faster connections overall. And last but not least, Starlink has excellent potential, but its current availability needs improvement.
FAQ
Do other types of internet have data caps?
Yes, data caps can also be applied to satellite and fixed wireless internet connections. Fiber-optic internet services, however, typically don't have data caps. Check with your service provider to determine if your specific internet connection has a data cap.
Are there any advantages to having a data cap?
Yes! Having a data cap ensures that no one user consumes too much of the available bandwidth, allowing everyone to share the resources fairly. Data caps also enable providers to allocate resources better and ensure that those who use more data don't hog all the available bandwidth.
Can I change my data cap?
Yes! Many service providers with data caps will allow customers to buy more data as needed, either through incremental means or by opting for an upgraded plan.
If you generally stay within your limits and occasionally incur small charges, it would make sense to purchase in increments. However, if you're racking up hefty fees monthly, it might be worth shelling out for the upgrade.
What is latency?
Latency is the time it takes for a signal to travel from one point to another. It is measured in milliseconds and can be a critical factor when evaluating the performance of networked systems.
High latency means more time is needed for data to travel, resulting in slower response times and poorer overall performance. Lower latency means communication is faster, often leading to a better user experience.
What is zero-rated data?
Zero-rated data is a type of data that doesn't count toward your monthly usage plan. This means you can browse and use certain types of apps, websites, or services without it counting against your data allowance – no matter how much data you use!
It's helpful if you have a limited amount of data each month. Most service providers offer zero-rated data plans, so check with your provider for more information.
