Comments on: Slowing Economy Slowing Broadband Growth

By: Comcast Is Latest to Report Broadband Sub Growth in Q1

Comcast Is Latest to Report Broadband Sub Growth in Q1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:15:36 +0000

[...] New broadband subscribers, meanwhile, slowed by 33 percent from the year-ago period, to 328,613, but grew by 78 percent from the fourth quarter, in line with quarter-over-quarter growth at other ISPs. That growth could be the result of customers adopting super-fast broadband in the form of DOCSIS 3.0 from Comcast and Verizon’s FiOS. It may also be a natural rebound from a pretty bad fourth quarter, when broadband net adds skidded at most ISPs. [...]

By: Working On the Road - Literally | Functional Tech for Business

Working On the Road - Literally | Functional Tech for Business — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:22:46 +0000

[...] Slowing Economy Slowing Broadband Growth (gigaom.com) [...]

By: Costas Troulos

Costas Troulos — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:34:15 +0000

I think that broadband must be considered as an information service similar to telephony. These two (broadband and telephony) hold different qualities than other information goods such as Television and Radio. On one hand TV and Radio require a comparably significant but one-off purchase of the set. Even more, second hand markets (ie further reduced pricing) is an additional enabler for broadcasting market.

On the other hand both broadband and telephony are considered by the consumer as a monthly expenditure that is required to have the service available.

On these terms, it can prove useful to estimate the impact of the current economic and social situation on broadband drawing from previous experience on telephony. This particular and highly necessary differentiation between information goods and information services is what makes universal service debate relevant to broadband and telephony and not to TV/Radio. And this also can explain the growth rates of each respectively, throughout the years.

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:07:01 +0000

@Jason

I have pointed out in the piece that there are quite a few that have not reported their numbers. I am assuming flat growth for them – unlikely – and that means a decline of around 150K new connections or just over 10% decline. I think it is pretty substantial.

@Jonathan

I have not, though that is a pretty good suggestion. I am going to try and compare those numbers.

@Wifiguy, I have not been able to find time to collect my thoughts on Microsoft’s retail store news and didn’t want to just make an off the cuff remark, like eight years after apple, Microsoft gets the religion. etc! There are plenty of people who made that obvious point.

I am thinking more from Microsoft’s larger strategy.

By: Screen Sleuth

Screen Sleuth — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:40:16 +0000

Yep, Wi-Fi will be the future, not “broadband” in its existant form (unless prices drastically change). DSL will probably be near dead in 10 years or so; based on old technology.

By: thegeniusfiles

thegeniusfiles — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:49:35 +0000

Broadband: an overpriced product with a stupid business model and a terrible access method. Business slowing? Oh, the humanity. I cannot have any sympathy for an industry which mucks up a product/service that has a huge demand. Demand is still there, airheads! Even worse management than the Detroit auto industry. Go cry in your beer together!

By: tom

tom — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:54:16 +0000

i sell cheap used computers. many of my customers are first time buyers. almost no one sign up for DSL or cable for there internet access. some just use wifi with there laptops out and about. quite a few live in apartments with free wifi; still more share a neighbors wifi connection. but nearly everyone who pays a monthly fee of some kind is going with one of the cell phone company options. here in denver that overwhelmingly means crikit for leap wireless. $40.00 a month gets a high speed link that works anyplace in the city. it is technically limited to 5 GB per month by the FUP. but myself and several other have been using it much more than that without noting any significant slowdown.

i believe the rate at which cellular broadband will be taking over from cable and DSL is very underestimated. most people will take even a pretty big sacrifice in speed for the convience.

By: Wifiguy

Wifiguy — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:19:34 +0000

Om, been waiting to get your take on Microsoft coming out with retail stores, I know you got something to say a out this!!

By: Sanjeev Mishra

Sanjeev Mishra — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:16:24 +0000

Broadband service is on high in India, now Google Internet Bus is on roll too.

By: Jonathan Greene

Jonathan Greene — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:03:24 +0000

Did you compare to cable subs / services growth? Be curious to see how broadband ranked against TV etc …

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:49:58 +0000

Dear Sir,

Respectfully I disagree with the analysis, although I value your opinion. Your total Q3 number accounts the total subs for all the carriers, but Q4 adds only the filings announced. Since that data is pending for some carriers. It will not be correct to use that in your totals. If you remove the subscribers for Q3 for the TBA carriers, you will find that the drop in subscribers is only 2% as opposed to the 22% it currently looks. Which you will agree is marginal. Indeed TWC seems to have had the biggest loss, but it is hard to conclude whether this was the effect of the economy or possible churn to AT&T and Verizon.