While it's not the fastest, satellite internet is the only internet connection type available in all 50 states, making it a top contender for rural households with limited internet options.
Despite the popularity of Starlinkand the growing power of its 7,000 satellites, satellite internet is commonly viewed as a last resort for home internet. So what makes satellite internet so great? What should you be mindful about before signing up? Let's take a closer look at how satellite internet works -- and what to expect from the top competitors in the industry.
Read more: The best internet providers for 2025: Cable vs. fiber vs. satellite and more
Locating local internet providers
How does satellite internet work?
With satellite internet, you'll need to mount a dish like this one outside your home to receive the internet signal from orbit. Starlink
Like satellite TV, satellite dishes receive radio waves transmitted from satellites in geostationary, low- or high-Earth orbit. The radio frequencies, or "satellite spectrum," are licensed frequencies managed by the Federal Communications Commission in the US and by the International Telecommunication Union globally. Internet service providers use data centers or central stations connected to an internet network to funnel information back to your receiver dish.
There is a lot of complicated technology involved in transmitting data from a satellite to your computer, but to simplify, think of satellite internet as working in three main components:
Locating local internet providers
Your satellite dish : Your dish receives and transmits data.
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