The 20 largest cable and phone providers in the U.S. added 5.4 million net high-speed Internet subscribers in 2008. Annual net broadband additions have declined in the past two years and were the fewest in the seven years that Leichtman Research Group (LRG) has been tracking the broadband industry.
In comparison 8.5 million broadband subs were added in 2007, and a peak of 10.4 million subs were added in 2006. The top broadband providers account for 67.7 million subscribers, as cable companies hold 36.9 million, while phone companies have 30.7 million subscribers.
For 2008 the top cable companies added 3.2 million broadband subscribers and 59 percent of the total broadband additions, while the top phone companies scooped up 2.2 million broadband subs.
Over the past four years, the total number of broadband subscribers in the U.S has doubled. Growth has slowed with increased market penetration, says LRG.
For more:
- Leichtman Research Group release.
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