LRG: Fixed wireless accounted for 95% of new broadband subs in 1Q 2023

In its latest report, broadband, media and entertainment industries analyst Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG - Durham, NH), states 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.

LRG finds that 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.

While fixed wireless service providers may have the least amount of subscribers, according to LRG they added the most in the first quarter of 2023.

“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."

Research highlights

LRG's latest analysis finds that overall, broadband additions in 1Q 2023 were 89% of those in 1Q 2022. The researcher found top cable companies added about 65,000 subscribers in 1Q 2023, compared to about 485,000 net adds in 1Q 2022.

LRG's data states that 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. Notably, the data finds that wireline telcos had about 500,000 net adds via fiber in 1Q 2023, and about 520,000 non-fiber net losses.

Meanwhile, the analyst reports that fixed wireless/5G home internet services from T-Mobile and Verizon added about 915,000 subscribers in 1Q 2023, up from 530,000 net adds in 1Q 2022.

LRG says its research combines ongoing consumer surveys with industry tracking and analysis, to provide broadband companies with a richer understanding of current market conditions, and the potential impact and adoption of new products and services.

The chart below provides 1Q 2023 subscriber info for the top companies in each broadband service provider category.