According to the Leichtman Research Group, the largest cable and telephone providers in the United States - representing about 96% of the market - acquired about 370,000 net additional broadband Internet subscribers in 2Q 2019, compared to a pro forma gain of about 480,000 subscribers in 2Q 2018.
The top broadband providers now account for 99.9 million subscribers, with top cable companies having 66.2 million broadband subscribers and top telcos having 33.7 million.
Findings for the quarter indicate:
- Overall, broadband additions in 2Q 2019 were 77% of those in 2Q 2018.
- The top cable companies added about 530,000 subscribers in 2Q 2019 - 90% of the net adds for the top cable companies in 2Q 2018.
- The top telephone companies had a net loss of about 160,000 subscribers in 2Q 2019, compared to a net loss of about 110,000 subscribers in 2Q 2018.
- Over the past year, there were about 2,520,000 net broadband additions - compared to about 2,275,000 net broadband adds over the prior year.
"With the addition of 370,000 subscribers in the quarter, top broadband providers in the U.S. cumulatively now account for nearly 100 million subscribers, including about 6% non-residential subscribers," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for LRG. "On a pro forma basis, these top 16 broadband providers accounted for about 13.5 million broadband additions over the past five years, and 28.9 million net adds over the past 10 years."