Comcast lost 167,000 broadband subscribers in the second quarter of 2026, a figure that was slightly worse than analyst expectations but an improvement compared to the same period last year. This brings their total residential broadband subscriber base to 28.5 million. The company's average revenue per user (ARPU) for broadband was $73.27, a 3.8% decrease year-over-year, attributed to Comcast's decision to forgo rate hikes and offer cheaper plans, as well as a popular free mobile line promotion.
Comcast's Chief Financial Officer, Jason Armstrong, acknowledged that intense competition from fiber, fixed wireless, and emerging satellite alternatives like Starlink (though not yet a significant factor) is a persistent challenge. He stated the company operates under the assumption that the market will remain highly competitive. Despite these broadband losses, Comcast added a record 448,000 mobile lines, bringing their total wireless subscribers to nearly 10.2 million. This growth is largely driven by a year-long promotion offering a free mobile line with internet plans, with a significant majority of these free lines converting to paying customers as expected.
To combat broadband subscriber losses, Comcast is focusing on bundling fixed and mobile broadband services, with about 17% of its residential broadband subscribers now also having at least one mobile line. The company also aims to improve customer satisfaction by offering higher internet speeds and addressing concerns regarding pricing and customer service. Consolidated capital expenditure increased by 8.3% to $2.902 billion, with connectivity and platforms capital expenditure rising by 19.9% to $2.3 billion, reflecting significant investment in network infrastructure despite declining broadband revenues.
