ViaSat-3 F2 Is in Service: What It Means for Viasat Home Internet
Updated
Viasat's ViaSat-3 F2 satellite entered service over the Americas on September 17, 2026, and with it the three-satellite ViaSat-3 constellation is complete. On October 8, 2026, Viasat said its new home internet plans built on that capacity are live: Essentials, Unleashed and the new Unleashed Max. Here is what changed for Viasat home internet customers, what didn't, what the plans cost now, and how they compare with Starlink and Hughesnet.
Ordered through RSINC, every Viasat plan is guaranteed at least 80 Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps and are not guaranteed. ViaSat-3 F2 entered service over the Americas on September 17, 2026, completing Viasat's three-satellite ViaSat-3 constellation. Viasat put its F2-backed plans live on October 8, 2026: Essentials $39.99/mo, Unleashed $69.99/mo and the new Unleashed Max $109.99/mo for the first year (then $69.99, $99.99 and $179.99), plus a $15/mo equipment lease. Existing customers should check their account for plan options; Viasat says no equipment swap is required for the general network improvement.
Prices, speeds and terms from viasat.com, checked October 8, 2026. Promo prices are for new residential customers; taxes and fees extra.
What happened, with dates
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2023 | ViaSat-3 F1 (Americas) launches on a Falcon Heavy. Its large antenna reflector later failed to fully deploy, so F1 delivers only a fraction of its planned capacity. |
| November 13, 2025 | ViaSat-3 F2 launches on a ULA Atlas V 551 from Florida. |
| April 29, 2026 | ViaSat-3 F3 (Asia-Pacific) launches on a Falcon Heavy. |
| August 2026 | F3 enters service over Asia-Pacific. |
| September 17, 2026 | Viasat announces F2 has entered service across the Americas, completing the constellation. |
| October 8, 2026 | Viasat says its F2-backed residential plans, including the new Unleashed Max, are now available for new and qualifying existing customers. |
Dates from Viasat's ViaSat-3 fleet page, its September 17, 2026 announcement and its October 8, 2026 residential plans update; F1 reflector issue as reported by Via Satellite (September 21, 2026). Checked October 8, 2026.
Viasat says F2 is designed to provide more than one terabit per second of capacity over the Americas, and that the finished constellation has tripled the bandwidth across its global fleet. That capacity is shared with airlines, ships and government users, not only homes. Viasat's beamforming lets it shift capacity toward the busiest areas.
What it means if you already have Viasat
- Existing customers: Viasat says added capacity should improve service without an equipment swap. Check My Viasat for Unleashed Max plan-change options and confirm your address-specific requirements.
- Your service may still get less crowded. Viasat says that as new customers join the ViaSat-3 network, capacity frees up on its other satellites, which should mean less congestion for existing customers with no equipment swap.
- You can ask about switching. Viasat says the new plans are open to "qualifying existing customers," and its plans page says current customers can switch to Unleashed Max in the My Viasat portal. Check your remaining contract term first, because leaving a term plan early can cost $15 for each month left (see how to get out of a Viasat contract).
Viasat plans and prices now
| Plan | First 12 months | After 12 months | Download commitment and possible upload speed | Data | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $39.99/mo | $69.99/mo | 80+ Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps (peaks up to 150 Mbps) | 150 GB high-speed, then unlimited Standard Data | 24-month minimum |
| Unleashed | $69.99/mo | $99.99/mo | 80+ Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps (peaks up to 180 Mbps) | Unlimited high-speed | No contract |
| Unleashed Max (new) | $109.99/mo | $179.99/mo | 80+ Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps (peaks up to 200 Mbps) | Unlimited high-speed, highest network priority | No contract |
Prices from viasat.com as of October 8, 2026. The first-12-month price is a promotion for new residential customers. Every plan adds a $15/mo equipment lease; taxes, surcharges and add-ons are extra. Ordered through RSINC, every plan is guaranteed at least 80 Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps and are not guaranteed; burst figures are short peaks. Availability varies by address.
The number that matters is the floor: when you order Viasat through RSINC, you're guaranteed at least 80 Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps and are not guaranteed on every plan. That is enough for several HD streams and video calls at once, Actual speeds depend on network conditions. In our experience, Unleashed usually runs around 180 Mbps. Speed mostly matters when something isn't working, so pick a plan for its data and network priority, not its burst number. Here is how RSINC's 80 Mbps minimum speed guarantee works.
A few details matter more than the headline price:
- Same guaranteed floor on every plan: ordered through RSINC, all three are guaranteed at least 80 Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps and are not guaranteed; they differ in data and network priority. Burst speeds are short peaks under ideal conditions, so they are not the number to choose a plan on.
- "Unlimited" has rules: on Essentials, data after 150 GB is Standard Data that can be slowed during congestion (a Data Boost add-on buys more high-speed data). On Unleashed and Unleashed Max, if your usage trends above what 70% of customers on that plan use, you can get lower priority during congestion.
- Unleashed Max extras: top network priority at peak times and EasyCare protection included (Viasat lists it as a $9.99/mo value).
- Install and fees: Viasat advertises free professional standard installation (a $335 value), but its fine print says a one-time installation or activation fee may be charged at sale, so ask for the total before you schedule.
- Equipment: Wi-Fi 6 built in; phone support runs 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Central Time.
Our 2-year cost math
| Plan | Year 1 (promo + $15 lease) | Year 2 (regular + $15 lease) | 24-month total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $54.99/mo = $659.88 | $84.99/mo = $1,019.88 | $1,679.76 |
| Unleashed | $84.99/mo = $1,019.88 | $114.99/mo = $1,379.88 | $2,399.76 |
| Unleashed Max | $124.99/mo = $1,499.88 | $194.99/mo = $2,339.88 | $3,839.76 |
Our math from viasat.com prices as of October 8, 2026. Excludes taxes, surcharges, add-ons and any one-time installation or activation fee.
The jump in month 13 is the number to plan for. Unleashed Max goes from $109.99 to $179.99 before the lease, so it is the plan where the promo matters most. Our Viasat cost guide and Viasat Unleashed guide cover the bill in more detail.
Is Viasat the best option at your address?
Compare Viasat, Starlink, Hughesnet and any wired or 5G options by ZIP.
Viasat vs Starlink vs Hughesnet in October 2026
| Viasat | Starlink | Hughesnet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orbit | Geostationary (about 22,000 miles up) | Low Earth orbit | Geostationary (Fusion adds a wireless link) |
| Home plans | $39.99 to $109.99/mo first year, then $69.99 to $179.99, plus $15/mo lease | $55 (100 Mbps, select areas), $85 (200 Mbps, select areas), $130 (Max) | Pricing depends on the service address and offer; confirm the broadband label |
| Speed | RSINC download floor of 80 Mbps; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps (peaks up to 200 Mbps) | 400+ Mbps on Residential Max | Up to 100 Mbps |
| Data | Unlimited, with priority rules | Unlimited | Priority Data, then unlimited Standard Data |
| Contract | None on Unleashed and Unleashed Max; 24 months on Essentials | None | 24 months on promo plans |
| Install | Professional | Self-setup (pro install on some plans) | Professional |
Viasat prices from viasat.com and Hughesnet promo terms from hughesnet.com, both checked October 8, 2026. Hughesnet plan-by-plan prices as listed by Allconnect (updated September 17, 2026) and Hughesnet's $25/mo 12-month promo with $5 autopay savings; Hughesnet equipment fees extra. Starlink prices as listed on Starlink's service-plans page in October 2026; Starlink hardware cost varies by address. All prices vary by location.
Latency is still the big gap. F2 adds capacity, not a lower orbit. PCMag's September 2026 report cited about 696 ms latency on a Viasat plan versus roughly 20 to 30 ms for Starlink. That matters for online gaming, video calls and some VPNs; it matters much less for streaming and browsing. Read why Viasat's ping is high and LEO vs GEO satellite for the details.
- Pick Starlink if it is available at your address and low latency matters. Its 100 Mbps plan at $55/mo is cheaper than Viasat Unleashed after the first year. See Starlink plans, pricing and speeds.
- Pick Viasat Unleashed or Unleashed Max if Starlink isn't offered or is waitlisted where you live, you want professional installation and no contract, and your household mostly streams and browses.
- Pick Hughesnet if its address-specific price fits your budget and usage is light, and can accept a 24-month term. Compare in Is Hughesnet better than Starlink? and our Hughesnet vs Viasat vs Starlink guide.
What to watch next
- The SpaceX challenge at the FCC. SpaceX has asked the FCC to reconsider F2's U.S. market access over interference in shared Ka-band frequencies. Viasat has asked the FCC to dismiss the claims, and its license already limits use of those shared bands until coordination is done. As of October 8, 2026 we found no FCC ruling. Our F2 and the SpaceX protest page has the background.
- Real-world speeds. Before F2, Ookla data cited by PCMag put Viasat's U.S. median download near 41 Mbps. Watch for new speed data now that F2 plans are live, and check the FCC broadband label for the typical speed at your address.
- Plan availability by address. Viasat says not all plans are available in all areas. Check Viasat availability by address before you cancel anything else.
For Viasat's earlier "Internet on Your Terms" messaging around this launch, see ViaSat-3 F2 residential plans explained.
Want a second opinion before you switch?
We can check which satellite, 5G and wired plans reach your address.
Frequently asked questions
When did ViaSat-3 F2 enter service?
Viasat announced on September 17, 2026 that F2 had entered service across the Americas, completing the ViaSat-3 constellation.
Do current Viasat customers get faster internet automatically?
Viasat says the new satellite should improve service for existing customers without requiring an equipment swap. Current customers can check the My Viasat portal for an Unleashed Max plan change; confirm any address-specific equipment requirements before ordering.
How much is Viasat Unleashed Max?
$109.99/mo for the first 12 months for new customers, then $179.99/mo, plus a $15/mo equipment lease, as of October 8, 2026.
Is Viasat faster than Starlink now?
Not on peak speed, and that isn't Viasat's pitch. Viasat's selling point is its floor: when you order through RSINC, you're guaranteed at least 80 Mbps download through RSINC; uploads can reach 3-5 Mbps and are not guaranteed. In our experience, Unleashed usually runs around 180 Mbps. Starlink Residential Max lists 400+ Mbps and Starlink has far lower latency.