Getting internet access is crucial in today‘s highly connected world, but with so many options to choose from, making the right choice for your needs can get confusing. Two internet providers—Amazon‘s upcoming Kuiper satellite internet and the existing ISP EarthLink—both aim to provide quality connectivity, but they differ greatly in availability, speeds, costs and more.
Understanding these key differences is important in determining which one is the best fit for you.
A Background on Satellite, Fiber and DSL Internet
Before diving into a comparison, let‘s quickly cover how these three types of internet services deliver connectivity:
Satellite internet beams signals from satellites in space to dishes installed at the user‘s home. This allows satellite internet providers to easily cover very remote or rural areas, but weather can disrupt signals. Speeds tend to top out around 100 Mbps down.
Fiber optic internet transmits data via light blazing fast through glass fiber cables. It offers symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps, but fiber networks are still limited primarily to metropolitan areas.
DSL internet utilizes existing telephone lines to provide another hardwired option, but speeds max out around 100Mbps for most providers.
Now let‘s see how Kuiper and EarthLink each utilize these technologies.
Overview of Kuiper and EarthLink
Amazon‘s Project Kuiper aims to launch a network of over 3,200 low-earth orbit satellites to provide affordable high-speed satellite internet around the globe. Lead by Amazon‘s resources and powered by their AWS infrastructure, Kuiper promises coverage even in the most remote regions.
EarthLink, on the other hand, is an established internet service provider operating since 1994. They mainly focus on fiber and DSL internet, covering about 78% of the US population across all 50 states. Their fiber service offers blazing speeds up to 1Gbps.
Availability: EarthLink Covers More Ground for Now
Since Kuiper is still in development with satellites planned to launch at the end of 2023, EarthLink edges them out in current availability. EarthLink offers nationwide coverage, while Kuiper‘s service area remains to be seen.
That said, Kuiper‘s satellites intend to cover a wider geographic range and provide internet access way beyond the reach of EarthLink‘s wired connections. But that likely won‘t roll out fully until years after initial launch.
Winner: EarthLink for now due its large established coverage area, but Kuiper aims to greatly expand internet access to unserved regions down the road.
Speeds: Huge Potential Difference Between Fiber and Satellite
Exact Kuiper speeds remain unconfirmed, but expectations sit around 50-100 Mbps downloads and 10 Mbps uploads. That‘s pretty standard among existing satellite internet providers like Starlink or Viasat.
In contrast, EarthLink‘s fiber internet offers symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps—that‘s over 10x faster than Kuiper‘s expected satellite performance. However, to get those blazing EarthLink fiber speeds, your location needs to qualify for their fiber optic service.
With EarthLink‘s slower DSL internet, you can expect around 100 Mbps downloads but only 8 Mbps for uploads. So Kuiper would likely match or outpace those upload speeds.
Winner: EarthLink fiber blows Kuiper‘s expected satellite speeds out of the water. But Kuiper should offer performance on par with or exceeding EarthLink‘s DSL.
Cost Comparison Remains Difficult
Since Kuiper exists only on paper right now, judging its monthly pricing proves tricky. However, Amazon does aim for Kuiper to beat out the $110 per month that Starlink charges. Experts estimate plans will range anywhere from $50/month into the $100s.
For EarthLink, fiber internet runs around $60/month while DSL plans span $50 to $100 per month. Any taxes and fees stack on top of those base rates.
Given those numbers, Kuiper will probably run more expensive than EarthLink for what the service offers speed-wise. But concrete details remain to be seen.
Winner: Kuiper likely costs more per month for slower speeds than EarthLink fiber. But it may match up evenly with DSL pricing.
Equipment and Installation Costs
Here‘s a breakdown of what equipment costs and installation fees may look like for each service based on available details:
Kuiper Equipment and Installation
- Satellite antenna/dish: $200 to $600
- Installation fees: Unknown
EarthLink Equipment and Installation
- Modem rental: $9/month (required)
- Installation fees: $100 to $200
- Possible contract termination fee: $200
So both could rack up some decent upfront costs before even getting online. Kuiper‘s dish pricing looks a bit high, but that hardware enables the immense capability of tapping into satellites soaring miles above Earth.
Winner: Tough to judge given the lack of finalized pricing from Kuiper. But having to rent EarthLink equipment rather than owning it may cost more long term.
Key Differences in Service and Technology
Beyond the concrete numbers covered already, under the hood Kuiper and EarthLink take very different technological approaches to delivering internet access. A few key advantages stand out for each:
Kuiper Key Advantages
- Provides internet way out in remote areas and while traveling
- Satellite signals less vulnerable to weather/outages than ISPs using above-ground cables
- Leverages advanced satellite and AWS cloud technologies
EarthLink Key Advantages
- No data caps on any plans
- Won‘t struggle with latency and lag due to distance satellites need to transmit data
- Tap into reliable, high-performance fiber optic infrastructure when available
- Get service from a long-standing internet provider with 24/7 customer support
5 Must-Know Facts Comparing Kuiper and EarthLink
1. Kuiper‘s satellite network remains in early development — Amazon still needs to secure federal approval, conduct prototype testing, and launch an initial set of satellites before subscribers get any service.
2. EarthLink uses a combination of fiber and DSL to deliver internet service. Fiber allows for gigabit speeds, while DSL tops out around 100 Mbps.
3. Kuiper should greatly expand rural internet access once its network goes live, filling a major connectivity gap fiber and DSL struggle to cover.
4. As an established company, EarthLink already services 5 million+ subscribers across all 50 states, providing reliable internet for decades already.
5. While concrete details remain unknown, Kuiper will likely cost customers more money each month while delivering slower speeds than modern fiber internet.
The Bottom Line: EarthLink a Safer Bet for Most
Given that Project Kuiper remains early in development—with plenty of specifics still yet to be shared publicly—EarthLink stands as the best option currently for most internet subscribers. With competitive pricing and blazing speeds via fiber where available, EarthLink continues delivering for millions of customers.
On the other hand, Kuiper‘s ambitious vision could greatly expand internet access for rural users despite the compromises satellite internet brings. For city dwellers with EarthLink fiber access, sticking with that service means enjoying faster speeds today for less money compared to bleeding-edge satellite options.
But out in the country or other unserved regions, Kuiper and satellite internet as a whole could bring welcome connectivity where reliable wired internet has never reached. For solving this major broadband gap impacting distant communities, Kuiper holds game-changing potential assuming Amazon executes successfully from launch to widespread service coverage.
So while EarthLink prevails decisively for now in this comparison on paper, the real long-term winner has yet to be determined.
