Dish Network, a leading provider of satellite television, recently expanded its offerings to include satellite internet. Aptly named dishNET, the service aims to bring high-speed internet connections to rural residents who are underserved – or not served at all – by wired broadband. There aren't many satellite internet providers on the market, but dishNET ranks among the best, delivering decent speeds, enticing packages and bundle discounts. If you live near the middle of nowhere, our TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award recipient for satellite internet can get you connected to the online world.
Although dishNET doesn't boast the fastest speeds of the companies on our lineup of satellite internet providers, the speeds it does offer are good and will seem downright blazing compared to a sluggish dial-up connection. The service's entry package nets you up to 5Mbps for downloading and an upload speed up to 1Mbps. You'll get double the speed with the premium package – up to 10Mbps download and 2Mbps upload. With these speeds, latency can be an issue if you're a heavy online gamer. However, they should be more than sufficient for daily web browsing, emailing and media streaming.
dishNET is likewise good in terms of bandwidth thresholds. Similar to most satellite internet services, this one also distinguishes between anytime bandwidth and nighttime bandwidth. Depending on the package you select, dishNET allots you anywhere from 10GB to 30GB of total bandwidth.
All three dishNET packages come with five email addresses, each with 2GB of storage. This isn't as much storage as what our higher-ranked satellite internet providers offer, but it should be plenty if you aren't using the account to storage large attachments.
dishNET provides most of the other service features we looked for in satellite broadband services. A download manager helps you schedule downloads to occur during off-peak hours, when you use the least amount of bandwidth. The company also has a generous 30-day return policy and a homepage you can customize.
The standout feature of this satellite internet service is its bundling discounts. If you bundle your satellite internet with Dish Network's satellite television, the service discounts your monthly fees, making it one of the most affordable satellite internet providers. As a forerunner among satellite television, Dish Network's bundled services are highly attractive if your only option for television and high-speed internet is wireless satellite services.
Befitting such a large and well-known service provider, Dish Network provides comprehensive and useful help and support options. If you experience issues with your connection or satellite equipment, you can get immediate technical support via telephone, email or live chat. Additionally, you can browse product manuals, a knowledgebase and FAQs online.
One thing we noticed about Dish Network's customer service that stands in stark contrast to the other services we reviewed is how non-pushy their representatives are. They were friendly and helpful in answering all of our questions without aggressively trying to upsell us.
dishNET isn't the fastest satellite internet provider, nor does it have the largest data allowances. However, its offerings will likely be satisfactory to most rural residents – particularly when you factor in its appealing and affordable service bundles.
