Comcast’s attempt to slow broadband customer losses still isn’t stopping the bleeding as fiber and fixed wireless competition intensifies. In Q4 2025 alone, Comcast lost 181,000 broadband subscribers, even as it leans harder into wireless bundling and other business lines like Peacock and theme parks. Ars Technica reports:

The Q4 net loss is more than the 176,000 loss predicted by analysts, although not as bad as the 199,000-customer loss that spurred [Comcast President Mike Cavanagh’s] comment about Comcast “not winning in the marketplace” nine months ago. The Q4 2025 loss reported today is also worse than the 139,000-customer loss in Q4 2024 and the 34,000-customer loss in Q4 2023.

“Subscriber losses were 181,000, as the early traction we are seeing from our new initiatives was more than offset by continued competitive intensity,” Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong said during an earnings call today, according to a Motley Fool transcript. Comcast’s residential broadband customers dropped to 28.72 million, while business broadband customers dropped to 2.54 million, for a total of 31.26 million.

Armstrong said that average revenue per user grew 1.1 percent, “consistent with the deceleration that we had previewed reflecting our new go-to-market pricing, including lower everyday pricing and strong adoption of free wireless lines.” Armstrong expects average revenue per user to continue growing slowly “for the next couple of quarters, driven by the absence of a rate increase, the impact from free wireless lines, and the ongoing migration of our base to simplified pricing.” Comcast Connectivity & Platforms chief Steve Croney said the firm is facing “a more competitive environment from fiber” and continued competition from fixed wireless. “The market is going to remain intensely competitive,” he said.

  • TacoEvent@lemmy.zip
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    3 hours ago

    I actually switched to Comcast recently. The only fiber option we have is AT&T and they have been literally adding $5 to our monthly bill every few months or so. What started as an $80/mo deal became $105/mo for no apparent reason.

    Comcast was offering asymmetrical 1 gigabit with a 5 year lock at $65/mo. Install came out the next day and it’s been fine. I’m far more likely to hit 1000mbps actual on Comcast than when I had ATT. But on the flip side the service has a tendency to blip every now and then. No major packet loss or anything just the occasional slowness.

    Both companies can go to hell the moment my city introduces municipal fiber. But that’s highly unlikely.

    • w3dd1e@lemmy.zip
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      3 hours ago

      It totally depends on the competition. I lived in one neighborhood where Comcast was $100 a month for Fiber and had a data cap that I went over regularly. No unlimited option and no other providers in that neighborhood.

      Then I lived in an apartment in the same city. The apartment had Google Fiber, ATT, Comcast, and whatever else I don’t remember. ATT was $50/mo with no data cap.

      I use Google Fiber where I live now.

      • TacoEvent@lemmy.zip
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        2 hours ago

        100%. I’m surprised Comcast was able to offer $65/mo given the only alternative is ATT at $85/mo (current market rate).