Cable broadband losses ease in US
July 15, 2026 12.17 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The largest US cable operators continued to lose broadband subscribers in the first quarter of 2026, though the pace of decline eased, according to Parks Associates.

The research company estimates that Comcast, Charter Spectrum and Altice lost a combined 280,000 broadband subscribers in Q1 2026, compared with a decline of 320,000 in the same period last year.

At the same time, cable MVNOs added around 830,000 mobile subscriptions, underlining the growing importance of fixed-mobile bundles to cable operators’ retention strategies.

Parks Associates said the market has moved from subscriber acquisition at almost any cost towards customer retention through pricing, simpler offers and integrated broadband and mobile services.

The research points to intensifying competition around price and bundled connectivity. Optimum has promoted a five-year $25-a-month offer for 300 Mbps fibre broadband, while Starlink has replaced its upfront hardware charge with a monthly equipment fee, lowering the initial cost of adoption.

Parks Associates said converged home internet and mobile services are now used by 26% of US households. AT&T and Verizon introduced new integrated home broadband and mobile offers in the first half of 2026, adding to pressure on cable providers to defend their broadband bases.

Cable operators have increasingly used mobile services, delivered through MVNO arrangements, to reduce churn and lift household value as fixed wireless, fibre and satellite broadband continue to take share in parts of the US market.