Comcast Lost 167,000 Broadband Subs in Second Quarter

havaloc

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/comcast-lost-167-000-broadband-subs-in-second-quarter-slightly-worse-than-expected/

bigcoda

@havaloc
Good, maybe they should start by lower down there overinflated rack rates, and stop screwing over existing customers.

Donut417

bigcoda that makes too much sense. They are going to double down and raise prices./s

GSM-in-FL

Who is still paying the rack rates? They’ve had the 5 year price lock for a while now, and existing customers can switch to those plans.

There’s also prepaid NOW for $30.

havaloc

GSM-in-FL and existing customers can switch to those plans.

I have tried to switch existing customers to the new plans, they won’t allow it. I mean short term it makes sense, but long term it’s a stupid play. They should just silently let existing customers switch to the new plans. Better to get some money than no money. It’s so foolish. So you end up just enraging a customer and then they rage quit. If you just work with the ones that want to work with you, you get to keep their money longer. It’s so dumb.

havaloc

Is the worst over for Comcast?
https://www.lightreading.com/cable-technology/is-the-worst-over-for-comcast-

The reliance, and I would argue the over-reliance on wireless on an asset you don’t even own is just crazy, but whatever. If they lose their broadband subs all that’s left is a crappy MVNO essentially. Yes, I know they have other businesses, but broadband’s a big one.

GSM-in-FL

havaloc Really? On here and on Reddit when the new plans came out, lots of people said they were able to just call in to customer service and switch to the new plans.

markmich4

I know I haven’t been on the forum for awhile.. life gets busy..

But I just went through this with Xfinity/Comcast. Oh sure, they’ll let you have the new 5 year plans as an existing customer, but they will want higher prices! I was negotiating for a friend (they’re not into the techie side of things so they ask for my help) and Xfinity would NOT budge on any deal. Take or leave it was their approach. Did not matter if I said I would cancel service. Nope.. I had talked to their reps on reddit. The best that will happen is my friend is leaving for wireless and cancel their service with Xfinity. Xfinity is trying to jack up my friend’s internet only service (150meg download legacy offering) to $59 a month for them! You’ve got to be kidding me.

So go ahead Comcast, drive everyone away, talk about tone deaf and blind to what the market is saying. No, you’re not that big to fail..

smilingbob

We just had ATT Fiber installed so count us gone at end of the month. 300/300 for $35/mo or 300/100 for $40/mo - not a huge difference obviously, but it’s still fiber, faster and lower latency. If Comcast ever gets their act together and upgrades our area to FDX (and lowers rack rates/prices) I’ll reconsider.

Donut417

GSM-in-FL The problem is every market is diffrent. Some people have luck with getting new customer pricing. Some dont. I think competition has something to do with it. Comcast know’s whats offered in a given area. If you dont have another wired option its likely they are not willing to play ball.

GSM-in-FL There’s also prepaid NOW for $30.

While that works for many, it doesnt work for all. 20 Mbps upload could be limiting to some people. There are occasions where you may need better upload. Not to mention most people want faster than 100 to 200 Mbps.

retnbmn

smilingbob ATT/Quantum fiber is offering 1 Gb in Minnesota for $45 per month. My installation is next Monday.

Devious

retnbmn ATT/Quantum fiber

Hope it works out for you but it may not.

CenturyLink/Lumen sold Quantum to ATT on February 2, 2026.

Have to wonder why a company would sell their Fiber business.

There have been some Comcast customers that went to Quantum but after many issues went back to Comcast.

GSM-in-FL

Donut417 Not to mention most people want faster than 100 to 200 Mbps.

They might “want” faster, because marketing tells them they need faster speeds, but very few actually need faster.

Most people are shocked when I tell them a 4K video stream only uses 25Mbps (or less).

You could have a family of 4 all streaming 4K at the same time, and still not saturate that 120Mbps.

It’s not my money, so it’s certainly not my business if other people want to overpay, but I do at least help my family and friends switch to cheaper plans and help them save money.

There’s people paying $300/month for “Gigabit Pro” who readily admit they don’t even need it and have no use for that speed lol 🤷🏼‍♂️

I found it funny that some people (like supposed tech expert Lon.TV) had no idea what Metro Ethernet even was, and he had ordered the service! lol

He asked another guy who had ordered it “So is it like a T1 line?”

He admits he has no use or need for all of that speed, but is still happily forking over $300/month to Comcast for it…

Devious

GSM-in-FL Most people are shocked when I tell them a 4K video stream only uses 25Mbps (or less).

AppleTV can use more than that.

Up to 40 Mbps as they push higher bitrates than other services for cleaner picture quality.

GSM-in-FL

Devious Up to 40 Mbps as they push higher bitrates than other services for cleaner picture quality.

It’s variable bit rate, so it does very briefly burst that high during some action scenes, but the average across the entire movie or TV show has been measured at 25Mbps.

Apple’s own website says you only need a 25Mbps connection to stream 4K:

Apple recommends a minimum speed of 25 Mbps for 4K streaming.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/119599

px_eliezer_

Devious CenturyLink/Lumen sold Quantum to ATT on February 2, 2026.

Have to wonder why a company would sell their Fiber business.

To raise cash, AND to get rid of residential users in favor of enterprise users.

$5.75 billion in cash….
“The divestiture of our consumer fiber-to-the-home business marks a pivotal moment for Lumen. We are doubling down on where we are strongest and where the opportunity is greatest for us – powering the digital infrastructure that enterprises and public sector organizations need to win in the AI era,” said Lumen CEO Kate Johnson.

https://ir.lumen.com/news/news-details/2026/Lumen-Completes-Sale-of-Consumer-Fiber-to-the-Home-Business-to-ATT/default.aspx

To me the opposite side is more interesting—why did AT&T want the business, and why was it worth $5.75 billion to THEM ??

retnbmn

Devious I am aware that some have had a bad experience with Quantum. I will not cancel my Comcast Internet service (1.3 Gb sub-split) until I see how Quantum performs running in transparent bridge mode. Lumen appears to be moving in a direction of commercial business only. In addition to selling off their residential fiber business, they also have stated an intention to phase out landlines in this area.

Zenit_IIfx

Went from $110/mo for 1G/35Mbps to $79 for 1G/1G once Verizon turned on FiOS in the neighborhood. Literally weeks after Verizon went live, Comcast sent out mailers offering that same 1G/35Mbps I had before for $59/mo for 5 years. They refused to lower from the rack rate prior.

They only care after you leave.

Perhaps I will revisit when FDX hits to add a 2nd spare circuit (lowest speed tier) or when VZ’s 5 year price lock ends.

smilingbob

GSM-in-FL I’ve got friends who are paying $300+ for cable, or even worse $300+ for cellphones for the family. I just look at them and like, “WTF is wrong with you?” But as soon as I start trying to tell them about streaming services or MVNOs, or that they don’t need multi-gig internet to stream Netflix or for their kids to play Roblox, they shake their heads and look at me like I’ve grown a third eye.

GSM-in-FL

smilingbob I’ve had prepaid wireless and Comcast for years, I always found postpaid to be overpriced and a rip-off.

I’d rather buy my phones myself when I want to, rather than be locked into a long term contract and have it “subsidized” while paying $80/month instead of $25/month lol

Comcast prepaid is too slow for some people, so I get that, but I’ve been happy with the price and how it’s never increased in 10 years, while the speed keeps increasing. It’s also always had unlimited data.

It was originally $45 for 10/1Mb and now it’s $30 for 100/20Mb.

And I’m only paying $25 for wireless, and still getting unlimited data.