STI vs HughesNet: Why South Texas Is Switching

The Data Cap Problem

HughesNet plans include 100–200 GB of priority data per month. Once you use it, speeds drop to 1–3 Mbps — barely enough to load a webpage. For a modern household with multiple devices streaming, video calling, and working from home, 100 GB disappears fast. Netflix alone consumes 3–7 GB per hour in HD.

STI has no data caps. Stream everything you want, work from home all day, have three kids doing homework at once — your speeds don't change because your usage doesn't matter to us.

The 24-Month Contract Problem

HughesNet requires a 24-month commitment. Cancel early and you're facing an early termination fee of up to $400 — plus you must return their equipment within 45 days or face additional fees of $300–$500. STI has no contract. No ETF. No equipment to ship back. We keep customers because the service works.

The Speed and Latency Reality

HughesNet advertises up to 100 Mbps, but satellite internet has a fundamental limitation no plan tier can fix: latency. Data travels from your home to a satellite 22,000 miles in orbit and back — adding 600ms or more to every request. That's why satellite internet feels sluggish even when the download speed looks acceptable. Video calls buffer. Gaming is unplayable. Zoom meetings lag.

STI's Air Fiber is ground-based. Signal travels to a local tower — not a satellite in space. Low latency is built into the infrastructure.

A Note on HughesNet's Future

Industry reports as of early 2026 indicate HughesNet's parent company EchoStar has experienced significant subscriber losses due to Starlink competition. SEC filings suggest the company is exploring major changes to its residential satellite internet service. If you're on HughesNet and considering a switch, now is a good time to check STI coverage at your address.