The advantages of living in a rural area-a chance to enjoy nature, to live in peace, or life at a slower pace. However, one major disadvantage of staying in the countryside is having access to a trustworthy and fast internet connection. With work-from-home jobs, online education, and streaming entertainment becoming necessary these days, finding a good internet connection has proven to be a difficult task for many of the country folks. Fortunately, some rural internet service providers now offer quality internet solutions especially designed for rural areas. Here are some of the best rural internet service providers, pros and cons, and how they can help a user stay connected.
1. Viasat: Widespread Coverage with Decent Speeds
Since Viasat is one of the most widely offered satellite internet providers in the US, its name has become pretty popular in rural areas. It has internet plans that cover a wide range of speeds from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps, and families that spend a bit more time on the internet than others would find these suitable. In any case, while on Viasat, all the usual internet-associated activities like web browsing, video conferencing, and streaming will hardly cause much trouble.
One major advantage of Viasat is it comes to rural places where there is no other source of broadband. Viasat also offers plans with limitless data, although it will begin slowing down for the user after crossing a threshold on data. Satellite internet also lags way behind others concerning latency, which can make online gaming or some other activities requiring quick answers much less appealing.
Pros:
Available in virtually all rural locations
Speed plans up to 100 Mbps
Unlimited data options are available
Cons:
More latency compared to other forms of internet
Speeds will slow down once data limits are surpassed
2. HughesNet: Reliable Satellite Internet for Basic Use
HughesNet is a satellite internet service company that specializes in rural markets in which the broadband infrastructure is either not present or insufficient. On the other hand, this company offers up to 25 Mbps speed. It may not be quick enough, but it sure is good enough for general surfing, emailing, and light streaming. It's ideal for rural households that do not have such heavy consumption internet to use for video conferencing or gaming.
HughesNet offers data plans ranging from 10 GB to 50 GB, though it lowers your speeds instead of turning them off completely. The performance of HughesNet does not possess any outstanding quality like other satellite providers, in particular due to the effect of high latency and weather conditions; however, pretty reliable access to the internet is ensured for the user who resides in rural areas.
Pros:
HughesNet is readily available almost everywhere in the rural areas
Offers cost-effective plans for light users of internet access
Constant service for regular basic internet usage
Does not accommodate high speed rates - up to 25 Mbps
Data caps which throttle back once a quota has been surpassed
3. Growth Broadband Fast Fixed Wireless in Rural Areas
Rise Broadband is a major fixed wireless provider of internet in rural and underserved areas. Fixed wireless has a data transfer rate delivered through a beam from a local tower to a receiver at home. This has a couple of positives over satellite internet: it allows greater speeds and lower latency. Rise Broadband offers speeds up to 50 Mbps, which is pretty good for most applications in the household, including online streaming, video calls, and even online gaming.
Fixed wireless internet, like with Rise Broadband, tends to be more stable and fast since the service is not dependent on satellite signals and less dependent on weather conditions. Still, fixed wireless depends on getting a clear view of the tower; this means that if you live too far from a tower or your house is obstructed by trees, you might not get the service.
Advantages
Faster than satellite
Lower latency, great for gaming and streaming
Also less expensive than some satellite packages
Disadvantages:
Less accessible, requires proximity to a tower
Cannot be installed in highly wooded or obstructed areas
4. CenturyLink: DSL Option for Rural Users
CenturyLink offers DSL internet in most rural areas. DSL is the most widely deployed type of internet when there isn't cable and no fiber infrastructure. This is because it uses your phone lines. As much as the DSL would not represent the fiber's capability, some rural households still have access to CenturyLink services that go up to 100 Mbps.
Compared to the installation of satellite or fixed wireless, CenturyLink is relatively inexpensive. However, how close you are to the provider's central office determines its speed and quality.
Pros
Affordable pricing
A far much better and reliable compared to satellite internet
Speeds reach up to 100 Mbps in some areas
Cons
Speed depends on the area, how far you are from the provider
Only available in specific regions
Conclusion
The best rural internet service provider is always determined area after area, depending on your needs and budget. In areas where such services would not be readily available, there are options to consider satellite, such as Viasat and HughesNet for almost universal availability and faster speeds with fixed wireless like Rise Broadband, where available. CenturyLink DSL plans are quite affordable and can really fit the many needs of a rural household. Knowing the pros and cons of the provider above, you can find the best internet solution to keep you connected, no matter where you call home.
