There has always been a need for alternative rural Internet service providers that can provide high-speed Internet access in rural areas that lack the infrastructure to support traditional broadband Internet service providers. Satellite Internet providers like Starlink and 4G mobile Internet providers like UbiFi have been some of the most prominent alternative Internet companies that have stepped up to fill the niche Justify behind by most of the broadband providers that have opted not to do business in rural America.

However, there are several advantages that mobile providers hold over satellite Internet as long as you are in their coverage areas. First, mobile Internet companies like UbiFi can be significantly faster than satellite Internet service. Second, UbiFi and its cohorts are also capable of providing low-latency Internet service that makes them the best Internet for rural gaming, live streams, and other live activities. Both of these advantages are a product of the shorter distance that mobile Internet signals have to travel from cell towers to rural homes. In contrast, satellite signals have to travel from outer space to reach Internet users on the planet’s surface.

Thirdly, mobile Internet can be more reliable than satellite Internet. Satellite Internet is notoriously unreliable when obstructions such as adverse weather conditions, mountains, and trees block satellite signals from reaching receivers. While mobile Internet service is not completely immune to these obstructions, it does a better job of working in the midst of these obstacles, making it a more consistent and reliable option in general. 

Lastly, mobile Internet is easier to set up than satellite Internet. Satellite Internet providers usually require you to set up a satellite dish and modem, which can be expensive and challenging to install. In contrast, mobile Internet providers usually only give users a mobile router they can use to connect easily from their homes.

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Residents of rural America have learned to rely on a unique set of rural Internet service providers, in contrast to the prevalence of mainstream Internet service providers in urban and suburban households. Since many mainstream Internet companies have chosen not to do business in rural areas because of the higher risks from a business perspective, alternatives such as dial-up, DSL, mobile, and satellite Internet have sprung up to fill the niche of Internet for rural areas.

Because dial-up and DSL are outdated, they are consistently outperformed by satellite Internet providers like Starlink and mobile Internet providers like UbiFi. Both mobile and satellite Internet are popular because of their use of hi-tech solutions to address the lack of good infrastructure for broadband in rural areas. The technology behind satellite Internet is impressive because of the way it uses satellites orbiting the Earth to transmit Internet signals to rural households. The technology that powers 4G mobile Internet is less impressive, but it may be more practical in the long run.

Because of the distance between satellites and rural households, levels of latency will naturally be higher. In contrast, mobile Internet companies like UbiFi take advantage of the abundance of cell towers scattered throughout the country, even in places as remote as rural America. Since signals from cell towers have to travel a much shorter distance to rural households, mobile Internet providers can provide high-speed, high-performance Internet service that carries low latency, which makes it ideal for customers looking for the best Internet for rural gaming. Companies like UbiFi also offer unlimited 4G rural Internet, which gives them an edge over satellite companies that enforce strict data caps and charge expensive overage fees.

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Rural residents looking for high-speed rural Internet service providers usually fall back on satellite Internet service providers because of their promises of high-speed downloads and surfing. The best satellite Internet service providers usually offer download speeds of 25-100 Mbps, which is consistent with what mobile Internet providers like UbiFi offer. Though these speeds still don’t compare with cable or fiber Internet speeds, on paper, they are still satisfying enough for rural residents’ needs. However, there is one caveat that everyone interested in satellite Internet for rural areas should consider.

Satellite Internet is fast on paper, but it has the highest latency of any type of Internet. It is telling that ping of less than 150 ms is considered impressive for satellite Internet, while other types of Internet providers can achieve latencies as low as 10-20 ms. The main issue here is an inherent problem with the setup for satellite Internet. One of the biggest factors causing latency is the distance between a household and the transmitter for Internet signals. Because satellite Internet relies on satellites orbiting the Earth, the distance will always be farther than any cable, fiber, DSL, or mobile provider.

With this in mind, rural residents who wish to complete remote work or participate in online gaming with no distractions should consider mobile Internet as an alternative to satellite Internet. Mobile Internet providers like UbiFi even offer unlimited 4G rural Internet with no overage fees. You can even sample UbiFi with a 14-day service trial if you aren’t sold on it. Be sure to choose the best rural Internet service provider based on your needs and not just the most popular or common choice.

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