HughesNet Loses Over Half Its Satellite Subscribers to Starlink

HughesNet has lost more than half its satellite broadband subscribers since December 2020, with the total falling to 681,000 as of March 31. The drop from 1.56 million customers marks a steady erosion that accelerated after SpaceX began serving U.S. consumers with Starlink.

The latest quarterly decline shows 853,000 subscribers a year earlier shrinking by roughly 20 percent. HughesNet has shed about 100,000 users annually since late 2020. Median download speeds for U.S. HughesNet customers reached 48.55 Mbps in the first quarter, compared with 127 Mbps for Starlink users, according to Ookla data.

Parent company EchoStar reported a $7.6 million net loss for the quarter and warned that insufficient cash on hand raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Revenue continues to shrink year over year while HughesNet plans start at $40 per month for new customers.

SpaceX and EchoStar have struck two deals worth $20 billion in cash and stock that let Starlink use EchoStar spectrum for mobile service. In return, Boost Mobile gains satellite connectivity in dead zones. EchoStar sells Starlink kits through Dish Network and Boost Mobile but has not integrated the service under the HughesNet brand.

Earlier reports documented similar losses: 224,000 customers left in 2023 and another 117,000 by early 2025, bringing the base to 883,000 at that point. Viasat, another legacy satellite provider, has also lost more than half its fixed broadband customers since Starlink launched.