Business News Daily provides resources, advice and product reviews to drive business growth. Our mission is to equip business owners with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions. As part of that, we recommend products and services for their success.
We collaborate with business-to-business vendors, connecting them with potential buyers. In some cases, we earn commissions when sales are made through our referrals. These financial relationships support our content but do not dictate our recommendations. Our editorial team independently evaluates products based on thousands of hours of research. We are committed to providing trustworthy advice for businesses. Learn more about our full process and see who our partners are here.
Viasat Business Internet Review
Table of Contents
- Viasat offers wider internet coverage than cable and fiber do.
- There are internet backup options for outages and natural disasters.
- An online account management tool allows for easy payments and data usage checks.
- Viasat is more expensive than cable and fiber internet plans.
- Viasat does not offer a plan that includes symmetrical upload and download speeds.
- Viasat’s persistent IP addresses allow you to stay connected to your business throughout the day.
- Backup internet allows Viasat business customers to continue running essential applications and save money in the long run.
- Viasat is our best pick for rural businesses that need reliable internet connections.
- This review is for small business owners who are considering Viasat as their business internet provider.
Cable and fiber internet are soaring in popularity as more people demand faster internet speeds to connect with both customers and employees online. However, these types of internet connections aren’t available everywhere, and people in rural areas, in particular, may be hard-pressed to find connectivity. For those customers, Viasat’s satellite internet is the best choice. The company’s vast internet coverage and persistent IP addresses make it ideal for rural businesses that need reliable, accessible internet connections.
Viasat Editor's Rating:
8.2 / 10
- Pricing
- 8/10
- Contract
- 8/10
- Customer support
- 9.5/10
- Internet speeds
- 7.5/10
- Internet mobility
- 8/10
Why Viasat Is the Best Business Internet Provider for Rural Businesses
Although cable and fiber internet provide higher internet speeds than satellite internet does, they are not available everywhere. Viasat’s Business Internet plans, combined with the company’s internet backup options, are available virtually everywhere, even in rural locations. Viasat also makes it easy to set up an internet connection, allowing business owners to get connected and back to focusing on growing their business. For these reasons and more, we chose Viasat as the best internet provider for rural businesses.
Viasat Business Internet Features
| Persistent IPs | Each business plan comes with three IP addresses that can help everyone stay connected. |
|---|---|
| Backup internet | Stay connected in the case of an internet outage or natural disaster. |
| All-in-one pricing | Equipment, installation and other features are included in the plan price. |
| Priority connection | Business customers receive prioritized networks through their business plan. |
| Vast internet coverage | Five satellites in orbit give Viasat some of the widest internet coverage available — up to 35 Mbps to 96% of the U.S. population. |
Persistent IPs
Most internet companies offer a choice between static and dynamic IP addresses. Static is typically the most popular choice for businesses, as it’s useful for hosting websites and providing remote access to employees. With Viasat’s persistent IPs, however, you don’t get just one IP address; you get three.
Unlike dynamic IP, where the address occasionally changes to a totally new address, persistent IP switches among three IP addresses provided with a Viasat business plan. Because these IP addresses do not change, they are much more consistent and allow businesses to monitor devices connected to the IP.
Backup Internet
Viasat’s satellite internet on its own works wonderfully as a secondary internet connection for business customers who may want to supplement their primary business internet plans. That said, even Viasat’s service is not immune to outages, natural disasters and other unexpected events. Fortunately, Viasat has its own backup internet that will serve as a secondary internet connection that the company offers to other customers.
We liked that with this backup internet plan, business customers can continue running business-critical applications. Less downtime means less lost productivity and a better ability to keep operations running smoothly in the event of an outage.
All-in-One Pricing
Viasat’s internet prices may be steep, but they come with several great benefits that outweigh those of their direct competitors. Viasat’s lowest-priced internet plan costs about $175 per month, making it much more expensive for a 35 Mbps plan compared with its competitors. However, this price includes free hardware leasing and installation, and there’s no fee for data overage. And, of course, satellite internet is available in places Viasat’s competitors don’t serve.
Vast Internet Coverage
Unlike cable and fiber internet, satellite internet provides the highest amount of coverage globally. Viasat’s five satellites orbiting the planet provide near 100% internet coverage, including even the most non-serviceable areas. For this reason, we liked Viasat for rural businesses that don’t have dependable internet connections or access to fiber or cable internet services.
Viasat Business Internet Costs
Viasat offers unlimited and metered business broadband plans. The prices are as follows:
- Unlimited 35: $175 per month
- Unlimited 60: $300 per month
- Unlimited 100: $500 per month
- Metered 1GB: $50 per month
- Metered 10GB: $80 per month
- Metered 20GB: $100 per month
- Metered 50GB: $150 per month
- Metered 200GB: $400 per month
These prices may be steep for megabit internet speeds, but the cost includes many features that are usually offered as separate charges. Both the unlimited business broadband and metered business broadband plans include persistent IP addresses, hardware leasing, and prioritized internet in the case of network traffic.
Viasat Business Internet Setup
Installation is done within three to five business days of being ordered online. As Viasat typically caters to areas that other providers do not serve, this is a relatively quick turnaround. Both the unlimited and metered business broadband plans come with free hardware leases that include a satellite dish and a modem, so customers do not have to provide their own equipment.
Viasat Business Internet Customer Service
Customer service for Viasat Business Internet is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Central time.
In addition, Viasat offers a library of articles with frequently asked questions and troubleshooting advice. We liked that this information offers customers a self-service option if they are unable to reach the customer service team.
Viasat Business Drawbacks
Although Viasat has wider internet coverage than cable or fiber internet providers, Viasat’s speeds leave something to be desired. Its fastest download speeds are only up to 100 Mbps, a fraction of the gigabit internet speeds offered by cable and fiber internet providers. Additionally, upload speeds are much slower: up to 4 Mbps. Businesses that need to do large data transfers or perform tasks that require heavy internet use should consider Viasat only as a backup option to complement their primary connection.
Furthermore, Viasat’s satellite internet is relatively expensive compared with cable and fiber internet with the same speeds. Viasat’s Unlimited 100 Mbps plan costs $500 per month, whereas other providers offer gigabit internet for a fraction of that price. However, this price does come with many features, including hardware leasing, prioritized connection and three persistent IP addresses, as well as connectivity in remote areas.
Methodology
When reviewing business internet providers, we considered the features that business owners need in order to get their business going from start to finish. Part of that process included doing extensive research, calling providers, and finally deciding on a best pick case for each of the vendors. When doing so, we considered factors such as installation times, internet speeds, business phone services, and internet availability. For rural businesses, we chose Viasat as the ideal business internet provider.
Viasat Business Internet FAQs
Overall Value
We recommend Viasat Business Internet for …
- Rural businesses.
- Small businesses in non-serviceable areas.
We don’t recommend Viasat Business Internet for …
- Businesses with significant data transfer needs.
- Companies that utilize cloud-based services for operations.
- Businesses that have fiber or cable internet options available in their area.
, 
presents the b. newsletter:Building Better Businesses
Insights on business strategy and culture, right to your inbox.
Part of the business.com network.