New broadband subscriptions slow in the first quarter of 2018

New broadband subscriptions are 83 percent of what they were one year ago, according to a new report from the Leichtman Research Group (LRG).  In 1Q18, there were about 800,000 net new broadband subscriptions between the cable companies and the telcos. That number was 965,000 in 1Q2017.

In addition, the LRG study found that the nation’s top cable companies outpaced the telco companies in new broadband subscriptions in the first quarter of 2018. The cable companies added 845,000 new broadband subscribers, while the telcos had a net loss of 45,000, largely caused by losses at CenturyLink. AT&T alone added 56,000 new broadband subscriptions.

The decline in new broadband subscriptions is cause for concern. More than 24 million Americans – including 19 million rural Americans – lack access to broadband at 25/3 Mbps speeds. And more than half of low-income households don’t subscribe to broadband. More must be done to encourage broadband adoption and achieve universal broadband access.

Link:

800,000 Added Broadband in 1Q2018 (Leichtman Research Group, May 18, 2018)