New research from Pike & Fischer’s Communications Media Analysis (CMA) Group finds that during the second quarter of 2005 39.7 million U.S. households had broadband Internet service provided by telephone operators via DSL or cable companies: the figure translates to approximately 34 percent of American households.
The total number of cable and DSL broadband subscribers increased by 12.5 million from the same quarter in 2004, an increase of over 45 percent year-to-year. For the second quarter of 2005, cable companies picked up approximately 858,600 new subscribers, while telcos added 856,400 DSL subscribers.
At the end of June, cable companies were found to have roughly 28 million broadband subscribers, while telephone operators collectively accounted for roughly 17 million broadband households. The figured indicate cable companies currently account for 55 percent of the household broadband market, the lowest market share the industry has ever held.
Looked at another way, the report’s findings also indicate roughly two-thirds of American households either use dial-up Internet connections or have no Internet access at all—a reality it can be easy to lose sight of while surfing the Web in one’s slippers and bathrobe.
The CMA Group’s report Competitive Analysis of DSL & Cable Modem Markets is based on fiscal and operational data released by large and medium-sized broadband service providers.
