For a long time, “high speed internet” in rural cities and small towns of the USA has been something of an oxymoron. While many ISPs like to claim that their service offers the same high speeds you can get with cable internet or DSL service available in most suburban areas and larger cities, rural internet is for the most part very slow, and not anything like what we city folks are used to. Will that always be the case?

Like many rural internet service providers, Broadband Blue also claims that their service beats the rest. While you might think this is just another marketing technique, Broadband Blue is actually different than other rural internet services in some key ways.

New Wireless High Speed Internet Options in Rural America

Broadband Blue is Not Satellite Internet

Most rural internet companies offer satellite internet service. They can say what they want about their satellite service being high speed, but satellite internet is what it is. While advances are being made in satellite technology, satellite service still isn’t that fast yet. While Broadband Blue does offer satellite internet service via HughesNet as a side service, their main wireless internet service is not powered by satellite technology, making it stand out considerably from its competition.

BroadbandBLUE is 3G Wireless Internet

Broadband Blue’s wireless internet service is actually powered by the same towers that give you cell phone service. Using 3G wireless technology has a lot of advantages over using satellites thousands of miles away up in outer space. The 3G networks they use cut down on lag time and actually make playing games online and streaming videos a possibility. (If you’ve ever tried playing WOW on satellite internet, you know it’s not really feasible with satellite.) Broadband Blue’s wireless service has a lot of advantages over satellite internet.

Unlimited High Speed Internet Access

One of the best things about Broadband Blue is that this WISP offers unlimited service plans, something that most rural citizens thought was only possible in the big city. With Broadband Blue, you can watch as many movies and play games for as long as you want without having to worry about exceeding your data allowance and either being cut down to a low speed or paying extra for your overages. This is an awesome benefit to BroadbandBlue, but there are some downsides.

While Broadband Blue is not satellite internet, it is similar to satellite internet service in that you must have a clear view of the southern sky to use it. I’m not joking about this. We’ve tried moving our modem around and it really only works sitting close to the window.

Another thing that is not that great about Broadband Blue is the big activation fee. It’s definitely not free like HughesNet satellite internet installation is, so I guess in some ways satellite internet is better. When paying the activation fee, you’ve just got to remember that the unlimited internet access is worth the extra upfront cost. …Right?

Broadband Blue is a totally different approach to wireless internet service in rural areas. It’s a great alternative to satellite internet, and maybe the only internet service option for rural gamers and YouTube lovers. While there are many benefits–unlimited data being the best one–there are downsides. If you’re not a heavy internet users who loves to burn up bandwidth like it’s no tomorrow, Broadband Blue may not be the best choice for you. You might save money with satellite internet, which Broadband Blue also offers.