Durham, NH — May 15, 2023 — Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG) found that the largest cable and wireline phone providers and fixed wireless services in the U.S. – representing about 96% of the market – acquired about 960,000 net additional broadband Internet subscribers in 1Q 2023, compared to a pro forma gain of about 1,085,000 subscribers in 1Q 2022.
These top broadband providers now account for over 112 million subscribers, with top cable companies having about 76.2 million broadband subscribers, top wireline phone companies having about 30.8 million subscribers, and top fixed wireless services having about 5 million subscribers.
Findings for the quarter include:
- Overall, broadband additions in 1Q 2023 were 89% of those in 1Q 2022
- The top cable companies added about 65,000 subscribers in 1Q 2023 – compared to about 485,000 net adds in 1Q 2022
- The top wireline phone companies lost about 20,000 total broadband subscribers in 1Q 2023 – compared to about 65,000 net adds in 1Q 2022
- Wireline Telcos had about 500,000 net adds via fiber in 1Q 2023, and about 520,000 non-fiber net losses
- Fixed wireless/5G home Internet services from T-Mobile and Verizon added about 915,000 subscribers in 1Q 2023 – compared to 530,000 net adds in 1Q 2022
“Top broadband providers added nearly one million subscribers in 1Q 2023, with fixed wireless services accounting for 95% of the quarterly net adds,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. “Over the past year, fixed wireless services have accounted for 105% of the approximately 3,400,000 net broadband additions.”
| Broadband Providers | Subscribers at end of 1Q 2023 | Net Adds in 1Q 2023 |
| Cable Companies | ||
| Comcast* | 32,324,000 | 5,000 |
| Charter | 30,509,000 | 76,000 |
| Altice* | 4,612,700 | (19,300) |
| Cable One | 1,063,000 | 2,600 |
| Breezeline | 689,903 | (3,878) |
| Other major private companies** | 7,035,000 | 7,000 |
| Total Top Cable | 76,233,603 | 67,422 |
| Wireline Phone Companies | ||
| AT&T | 15,345,000 | (41,000) |
| Verizon | 7,528,000 | 44,000 |
| Lumen | 2,981,000 | (56,000) |
| Frontier | 2,863,000 | 24,000 |
| Windstream^ | 1,175,000 | 0 |
| TDS | 515,400 | 5,400 |
| Consolidated | 369,862 | 2,404 |
| Total Top Wireline Phone | 30,777,262 | (21,196) |
| Fixed Wireless Services | ||
| T-Mobile | 3,169,000 | 523,000 |
| Verizon^^ | 1,866,000 | 393,000 |
| Total Top Fixed Wireless | 5,035,000 | 916,000 |
| Total Top Broadband | 112,045,865 | 962,226 |
* Updated counting of business customers in 1Q 2023
** Includes LRG estimates for Cox and Mediacom
^ LRG estimate
^^ Includes adjustments from prior reporting
TDS residential subscribers, includes 310,700 wireline subscribers and 204,700 cable subscribers
Company subscriber counts may not solely represent residential households – about 7% of the total are non-residential
Top broadband providers represent approximately 96% of all subscribers
Net additions reflect pro forma results from system sales and acquisitions, reporting adjustments, and the addition of new providers to the list – therefore, comparing totals in this release to prior releases will not produce accurate findings
About Leichtman Research Group, Inc.
Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG) specializes in research and analysis on broadband, media and entertainment industries. LRG combines ongoing consumer surveys with industry tracking and analysis, to provide companies with a richer understanding of current market conditions, and the potential impact and adoption of new products and services. For more information about LRG, please call (603) 397-5400 or visit www.LeichtmanResearch.com.
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