A new report from Leichtman Research Group (LRG) has found that the 19 largest cable and telephone providers in the US – representing about 94% of the market – acquired over 8.5 million net additional high-speed internet subscribers in 2007.
Annual net broadband additions were down compared to the record 10.4 million in 2006, and 9.9 million in 2005, with the figure at its lowest since 2003.
The top broadband providers now account for over 61.9 million subscribers – with cable companies having 33.5 million broadband subscribers, and telephone companies having over 28.4 million subscribers.
LRG also found that the top telephone providers added 4.4 million broadband subscribers in 2007 – compared to 5.65 million in 2006, and 5.4 million in 2005, cable operators added a 4.1 million broadband subscribers in 2007.
In the fourth quarter of 2007, cable and telephone providers added over 1.75 million broadband subscribers, with telephone companies adding over 900,000 subscribers and cable companies adding about 850,000 subscribers in the quarter.
Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, said: “Net broadband additions in the US peaked in 2006, yet there were still over 8.5 million new broadband subscribers added in 2007.
“The broadband market is clearly maturing, but the broadband subscriber base will continue to grow for many more years.”
A recent report from Point Topic revealed that by the end of the third quarter of 2007 there were 328.8 million broadband subscribers worldwide (see 328.8m Broadband Subscribers Worldwide).
Point Topic said that the combination of the US and Canada reported an increased growth rate of 0.15% to 3.29% for the quarter.
A recent report from Forrester Research said that there is still huge potential for growth in Western European residential broadband adoption, despite a slowdown in the majority of national markets.
Forrester predicts 44% household penetration at the end of 2007 and forecasts a rise to 71% by the end of 2013 (see Potential For Growth In European Broadband Adoption).
Related Links
