HughesNet

HughesNet Speed Test

See HughesNet's speed test results over the past 12 months or enter your zip code below to see if broadband internet from HughesNet is available in your area.
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Download Speed and Latency Test

Whether HughesNet is your internet provider or you use a different provider, the speed test below can show key statistics about your internet connection.

Note: This speed test can be used to test any internet provider, not just HughesNet.

This speed test will check the capability of your broadband connection whether you use HughesNet or another provider. The dials above will display statistics on download and upload speed. These metrics are the most important indicators of broadband connection performance. As of November 2018, HughesNet’s average download speed is 11.59 Mbps. Throughout their coverage area, the average latency on HughesNet Internet speed tests is 61.12ms. For context, wired terrestrial Internet connections usually output latency results in the 5–70ms range. Satellite Internet broadband connections, in contrast, are often closer to 500–800ms.

25MBPS Maximum Advertised
Download Mbps
31.20MBPS User Speed Test
Download Mbps Top 10 Fastest In State
61.12ms Average Latency
251,157 Speed Tests
FROM HughesNet Customers
57.06ms Average Jitter

Fastest Cities for HughesNet Internet Service

Macomb, MI25 mbps468 mbps
Germantown, MD25 mbps151 mbps
Gaithersburg, MD25 mbps89 mbps
Littleton, CO25 mbps85 mbps
San Diego, CA25 mbps65 mbps

HughesNet Fastest Download Speeds Over Time

In this chart we've calculated the average speed of the fastest 10% of users who ran a speed test from a HughesNet connection in the last 12 months.

HughesNet Average Download Speeds Over Time

In this chart we show the average download speed across all 251157 users who ran a speed test on their HughesNet internet connection in the last 12 months.

HughesNet Speed Test FAQ

HughesNet speed tests function by sending data from your home network to a remote server and back via the HughesNet Internet network. This allows the test to analyze the speed of data transit, the latency or “delay” before it finishes the journey, and how upload/download speeds compare for home users.

The average speeds shown above are “90th percentile” averages. We use 90th percentile averages because it helps eliminate “dud tests” that flood the HughesNet speed test database from customers trying to diagnose home network and WiFi issues.

HughesNet Download Speeds vs Upload Speeds

HughesNet prioritizes download speeds on their network. This is normal for Internet providers — only fiber providers and business-focused plans emphasize upload speed. Because download speed is most important for browsing the web and streaming Netflix or YouTube, HughesNet download speeds will usually be several times above hughesNet upload speeds.

HughesNet Latency Issues

HughesNet is known to face latency issues compared to wired “terrestrial” broadband providers like Comcast and Fios. The increased latency with HughesNet is due to the long journey data travels when transmitted via satellite rather than via undersea fiber cables. Additionally, HughesNet uses a single satellite to serve the entire country, so there are limitations on how much bandwidth that single piece of hardware can provider.

HughesNet Satellite Interent Speeds

HughesNet recently launched a new satellite called “Gen 5,” which has radically enhanced the speed and performance of their Internet plans. This new satellite allows for speeds in excess of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, which meets the FCC definition of “broadband” Internet service.

However, there is a catch: data caps. Because HughesNet speeds are limited by the bandwidth of their satellite, they place limits on the amount of data customers can use each month. These caps make HughesNet a poor choice for “cord cutters” and video streamers, even though the speeds are often better than the DSL alternative in rural areas.

HughesNet Speeds Compared to Viasat

HughesNet speeds are overall comparable to Viasat. (Viasat is the other major satellite Internet provider in the US.) Viasat recently launched a new satellite that allowed them to raise the data caps on Viasat Internet plans, making them more attractive for active users and families. However, HughesNet still often wins on price and value. Regardless of advertised speeds, Viasat and HughesNet real-world results tend to be similar when network stress is taken into account.

Last Updated on 12/10/2018

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