Comcast Loses More Broadband Customers As Competition Intensifies

Comcast Loses More Broadband Customers As Competition Intensifies | Enterprise Wired

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Comcast reported a sharper than expected decline in broadband subscribers in the final quarter of 2025, underscoring the pressure the company faces from fiber and wireless internet providers. Comcast Loses More Broadband Customers As Competition Intensifies, despite major changes to pricing and product structure, as the cable giant continues to lose ground in a market that has become more competitive and price sensitive.

The company said customer losses were driven by sustained competitive intensity, even as early signs of improvement from new initiatives began to appear.

Broadband Subscriber Losses Exceed Expectations

In its fourth quarter earnings report, Comcast disclosed a net loss of 181,000 broadband customers across residential and business segments in the United States. Residential internet accounts accounted for most of the decline, with 178,000 customers leaving during the quarter. Business broadband customers fell by 3,000.

The total loss exceeded analyst expectations of 176,000 but was slightly better than the 199,000 customer loss reported earlier in 2025. Even so, the trend represents a worsening performance compared with the same period in prior years.

Comcast ended the quarter with 28.72 million residential broadband customers and 2.54 million business broadband customers. The figures reflect ongoing challenges as consumers shift toward fiber connections and fixed wireless offerings that often promise lower prices and simpler plans.

Company executives acknowledged that competitive pressure remains intense. Comcast leaders pointed to fiber providers expanding their footprints and wireless carriers improving home internet performance as key factors influencing customer decisions.

Pricing Changes Support Revenue But Do Not Stop Churn

While subscriber numbers declined, Comcast reported modest growth in average revenue per user. The metric rose by 1.1 percent during the quarter, reflecting changes in pricing structure and the growing adoption of bundled services.

Executives said the slower pace of revenue growth was expected. Comcast has moved away from frequent price increases and short promotions toward simpler pricing models with clearer terms. These changes include lower everyday prices, unlimited data options, and bundled mobile offers.

Management expects average revenue per user to continue growing at a gradual pace over the next few quarters. The absence of rate increases and the impact of free wireless lines are expected to weigh on near term revenue expansion.

Revenue fell slightly to 6.32 billion dollars, down from 6.38 billion dollars a year earlier as Comcast Loses More Broadband Customers Cable television revenue also declined year over year. In contrast, mobile revenue rose to 1.40 billion dollars, supported by strong growth in mobile line additions during 2025.

The company now has more than 9 million mobile lines and continues to position wireless services as a key part of its bundled offering. Management sees bundling as a way to improve retention and customer value.

Streaming And Theme Parks Offset Connectivity Pressures

Beyond connectivity, Comcast benefited from stronger performance in its media and entertainment businesses. The Peacock streaming service reported a 22 percent increase in paid subscribers compared with the prior year, reaching 44 million. Revenue from Peacock grew 23 percent to 1.6 billion dollars in the quarter.

Universal Studios theme parks also delivered solid results, helping Comcast meet revenue expectations and exceed profit forecasts. Total company revenue for the quarter reached 32.31 billion dollars, representing year over year growth of 1.2 percent.

Net income declined sharply to 2.17 billion dollars, compared with 4.78 billion dollars a year earlier. Comcast noted that the comparison was affected by a large tax benefit recorded in the prior year, which makes the decline appear more severe than underlying operations suggest.

Looking ahead, Comcast described 2026 as a critical year for broadband investment. The company plans its largest annual investment focused on improving customer experience, simplifying products, and transitioning more customers to its updated pricing structure. For business owners, the results highlight the growing importance of service quality in a connectivity market where Comcast Loses More Broadband Customers and alternatives multiply, forcing providers to deliver clearer value to manage margins.

For business owners and entrepreneurs, the results highlight the growing importance of competitive pricing, service quality, and simplicity in the connectivity market. As alternatives multiply, broadband providers face rising pressure to deliver clearer value while managing margins in a crowded landscape.

Sources: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/comcast-sheds-more-broadband-customers-wireless-competition-mounts-2026-01-29

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