Viasat Business Internet Review and Pricing

Why We Chose Viasat for Rural Businesses

Businesses in rural areas don’t always have access to some internet service types, including high-speed fiber, cable or dedicated internet connections. Satellite internet provides a practical alternative because it doesn’t depend on terrestrial broadband infrastructure reaching the property. Viasat’s broad satellite coverage makes it accessible to farms, construction sites and other businesses in remote locations, with several plan options that let businesses choose the speed and High-Speed Data allowance that best fit their needs.

What we especially like about Viasat’s business service is its unlimited Office Hours data. On select Business Choice plans, qualifying activities don’t count against your High-Speed Data allowance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. That includes web browsing, email, VPN use and popular business applications such as Microsoft 365, Zoom and Dropbox. For rural businesses that rely on satellite internet throughout the workday, this can make a limited High-Speed Data allowance much easier to manage.

We also appreciate that Viasat includes free standard professional installation and typically installs service within three to five days. Businesses can choose from plans with different speeds and data allowances based on what’s available at their address, and Viasat now offers a no-long-term-contract option in addition to plans with minimum service terms. These options, combined with Viasat’s broad satellite coverage, make it a strong choice for businesses operating beyond the reach of traditional broadband networks. For these reasons, Viasat is our top pick for rural businesses that need reliable internet access.

Viasat Features

If you run a business in a rural area, providers like AT&T or Verizon may not offer wired internet at your location. Viasat reaches many of these harder-to-serve areas by satellite, but coverage isn’t the only thing it has going for it. Here are some of the business features that stood out to us.

Unlimited Office Hours Data

Select Viasat business plans include unlimited Office Hours data from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, allowing you to handle many everyday business tasks without using your monthly High-Speed Data allowance. Qualifying activities include web browsing, email, VPN use, file transfers, video calls and cloud-based tools such as Microsoft 365, Dropbox, Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams.

We especially like this feature for businesses that depend on satellite internet as their primary connection. High-Speed Data is a limited resource on many satellite plans, so being able to complete much of your day-to-day work without drawing from that allowance can help you make your data last longer. (Note that Office Hours isn’t available with Viasat’s Backup Internet or CAF II plans.)

Network Security

Viasat includes network security with its business internet plans at no additional cost. The service actively monitors network traffic and blocks suspicious activity, helping protect your business against common online threats without requiring additional equipment beyond your Viasat modem. We like that this protection is built into the service, since security is an important consideration with any business broadband connection.

Viasat’s modem also includes built-in business Wi-Fi, so you can connect devices throughout your company without purchasing a separate wireless router.

Viasat Voice for Business

Viasat Voice for Business gives rural businesses another way to handle calls when traditional phone service is limited. The VoIP service is designed to work with Viasat Business Internet, and Viasat optimizes voice traffic on its satellite network to help maintain call quality. Even better, calls don’t count against your monthly High-Speed Data allowance — an important perk when every gigabyte counts.

The service includes unlimited local, long-distance and toll-free calling within the U.S. and Canada, along with features like call forwarding, call waiting and voicemail forwarding. You can also keep your existing business number in most cases and route unanswered calls to a mobile phone. If you’re considering cloud-based phone systems for a rural location, having internet and voice service designed to work together could simplify your setup.

Backup Internet

Even if your business already has a reliable primary connection, an outage can bring online operations to a halt. Viasat offers satellite backup internet for $49.99 per month, giving businesses a secondary connection that doesn’t rely on the same land-based infrastructure as cable or fiber. That can be especially useful during outages, disasters or local infrastructure problems.

The backup plan includes 50 GB of High-Speed Data, with download speeds of 35 to 50 Mbps and uploads up to 4 Mbps. Once you use the 50 GB allowance, you’ll still have unlimited Standard Data, although Viasat may deprioritize your connection during network congestion. We like that the plan gives businesses a way to stay connected during an outage without adding another primary internet service.

Static IP Address

Viasat offers one static IP address for $10 per month, giving businesses a fixed address that doesn’t change over time. Many businesses won’t need one, but it can be useful if you host your own website or server, manage security cameras or need consistent remote access to your network.

We like that Viasat makes this available as an inexpensive add-on, particularly since rural businesses may have fewer internet providers to choose from. You can add or remove a static IP as needed, although removal takes effect on your next billing cycle. The option is available with Viasat Business service plans except CAF II Connection 25 and Voice-Only Connection.

There is one extra setup requirement to consider: You’ll need your own external router to use a static IP rather than relying on the Wi-Fi built into your Viasat modem. Some Viasat modems also need to be placed in bridge mode, which disables the modem’s built-in Wi-Fi.

EasyCare for Business

Because satellite internet requires a dish and other equipment at your location, service calls can be more involved than troubleshooting a typical internet connection. Viasat’s EasyCare for Business costs $14.99 per month and covers required standard service calls, including antenna repointing and repairs or replacement of wiring between the dish and modem. Without EasyCare, Viasat says a required standard service call normally costs $200.

EasyCare also lets you relocate your dish once a year for $95 instead of the standard $200 charge. We like that Viasat follows up after installation and required service visits as part of its Customer Care Commitment, too. New customers who add EasyCare within 30 days of activating their Viasat service get the first three months free.

Viasat Pricing

Viasat’s business internet pricing works a little differently from many of the providers we’ve reviewed. Rather than publishing a standard nationwide price list, Viasat asks you to enter your service address to see the plans, speeds and rates available at your location. We found that those offerings can vary considerably. In our spot checks, two rural California addresses qualified for a 150 Mbps Business Choice plan with 300 GB of High-Speed Data for $99.99 per month, while a rural Idaho address was offered a 12 Mbps Business Choice plan with 100 GB for $159.99 per month.

The good news is that Viasat makes it easy to check. Once you enter your address, you can see the available plans and pricing online without having to contact a sales representative. 

Here’s a look at the types of business service Viasat offers:

Viasat business internet plans also include several features at no additional charge:

• Optimized VoIP traffic that doesn’t count against your High-Speed Data allowance
• Built-in business Wi-Fi
• Free standard professional installation, which Viasat values at $500
• Business-class customer support seven days a week
• Network security that monitors and blocks cybersecurity risks and suspicious online activity

Here are a few other pricing details to keep in mind:

• Office Hours: On eligible plans, qualifying business activities don’t count against your High-Speed Data allowance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. Unlimited Office Hours isn’t available with Backup Internet or CAF II service.
• Extra data: If you run through your monthly High-Speed Data allowance, you can purchase a Data Boost with another 100 GB for $60. Otherwise, you can continue using Standard Data, but Viasat may deprioritize it during network congestion. Unlimited plans can also be deprioritized after usage exceeds 1,000 GB.
• Contracts: Terms vary by plan and location. Viasat does offer a no-annual-contract option with month-to-month service and no early termination fee; other plans may have minimum service terms and early termination fees.
• Equipment: Viasat charges $15 per month to lease its equipment.
• Activation: A one-time activation fee also applies when you start service.

Implementation

Unlike some internet service providers that offer self-installation, Viasat sends a certified technician to install the necessary equipment and get your service up and running. Standard professional installation is free with Viasat business internet plans, and customers can’t install the satellite dish themselves because it must be positioned and aimed correctly.

Viasat says service is typically installed within three to five days. The appointment itself usually takes two to three hours, and someone 18 or older must be on site. Your technician will discuss the installation requirements with you, including the need for a clear line of sight to the southern sky, and help you choose the best location for the dish.

If your business is in a leased or shared building, Viasat recommends checking with your landlord before installation. The technician also needs to be able to access your property with a standard company vehicle. Once the equipment is installed, they’ll walk you through your internet service and make sure everything is working properly.

Customer Support

Viasat provides several ways for business customers to get help:

• Business Care: Viasat’s dedicated Business Care team is available by phone seven days a week, although the company doesn’t publish specific support hours. You can also use the My Viasat portal or mobile app to manage your account, check data usage, change plans, purchase Data Boosts, run diagnostic tests and reboot your modem.
• EasyCare for Business: For an extra layer of coverage, you can add EasyCare for Business for $14.99 per month, with the first three months free if you add it within 30 days of activating service. EasyCare covers required standard service calls such as antenna repointing and wiring repair between the dish and modem — a $200 value, according to Viasat — and discounts an annual dish relocation to $95 from $200. Viasat’s Customer Care Commitment also includes a follow-up call after installation and a check-in after required service calls.
• Online resources: Viasat has a business-specific support center with articles covering billing, account management, plan features, data usage, static IP configuration, Voice service and other common questions. We found the information surprisingly detailed and useful, although Viasat’s live support options aren’t as extensive as those of some other business internet providers we’ve reviewed.

Limitations

Viasat can be an excellent option for businesses in rural areas, but there are some potential tradeoffs. Here are the biggest limitations to consider:

• Higher latency: Viasat’s satellite internet has much higher latency than fiber or cable because its signals have to travel a long distance to satellites in geostationary orbit. The difference can be noticeable during video calls and other real-time applications. In one of the rural locations we checked, Viasat’s Broadband Label listed typical latency of 662 ms. Businesses that have access to terrestrial broadband will generally get lower latency from those services. If you’re located in a serviceable area and want a provider with extensive wired infrastructure, check out our Comcast Business Internet review.
• High-Speed Data limits: Many Viasat plans include a set amount of High-Speed Data rather than unlimited full-speed usage. Once you exhaust that allowance, you can continue using Standard Data, but Viasat may deprioritize your connection during network congestion. Even unlimited plans can be deprioritized after usage exceeds 1,000 GB. If your business uses a lot of data and has access to cable internet, check out our review of Spectrum Business Internet, which doesn’t impose data caps or throttle speeds based on usage.
• Slower speeds than some satellite competitors: Viasat advertises download speeds up to 100 Mbps nationwide and 150 Mbps in select areas, with uploads topping out at 4 Mbps. That’s competitive with Hughesnet on downloads, but Starlink can provide considerably faster download and upload speeds. Rural businesses should compare all of the satellite options available at their address rather than assuming Viasat will provide the fastest connection.
• Static IP setup: Businesses that host servers, operate security cameras or need consistent remote access can add a static IP address for $10 per month. However, you’ll need your own external router rather than relying on the Wi-Fi built into the Viasat modem. Some Viasat modems must also be placed in bridge mode, which disables their built-in Wi-Fi. That’s an extra piece of equipment and setup to consider if your business needs a static IP.

Methodology

To determine the best business internet service providers, we researched, analyzed and evaluated top competitors in the market. During this process, we consulted with product specialists whenever possible. We compared and contrasted key criteria across vendors, including pricing, installation process, speed, connectivity type, additional services and the quality of customer support. When searching for the best provider for businesses in rural areas, we placed special emphasis on coverage and availability, speed, reliability, High-Speed Data allowances, network addressing options and other service-specific factors.

Bottom Line

We recommend Viasat Business Internet for …

• Businesses in rural locations without access to fiber or cable internet.
• Companies looking for an affordable backup or redundant internet connection.
• Businesses that can take advantage of unlimited Office Hours data for everyday online activities.

We don’t recommend Viasat Business Internet for …

• Data-heavy businesses that could be affected by slower speeds after exceeding their High-Speed Data allowance.
• Businesses in urban areas with access to faster fiber, cable or 5G internet options.
• Companies that require upload speeds faster than 4 Mbps.