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Comcast Passes Gigantic, Approaches Planetary
Business is booming for nation's biggest broadband, third biggest phone company

Comcast, which recently passed AT&T as the biggest broadband carrier in the United States, is also now the third largest phone company. Once they merge with NBC Universal, the company will be getting even more powerful. In short -- things are going well for the cable giant, and the company's earnings this morning continue the trend. The company posted revenues of $9.07 billion, and $35.7 billion for 2009 -- with $955 million net income for last quarter. Comcast now has 47.1 million broadband, voice and TV customers, and is poised to grow further with a push into Mobile WiMax and Internet video during 2010.

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According to Comcast's earnings report, the company lost 199,000 basic cable customers on the quarter. However, they added 410,000 digital video customers, 247,000 broadband customers, and 243,000 digital voice customers on the quarter.

In a statement, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said the company will focus on a number of goals for 2010, including finishing their deployment of faster DOCSIS 3.0 technology, as well as offering their Internet video service Xfinity (free to existing Comcast customers but not yet available to customers of other providers) to their entire userbase.

While Comcast notes they're still struggling with a sluggish economy, consumers have traditionally shown that TV service is one of the last things they've trimmed back on. The monthly average total revenue per video customer jumped 6.4% from $111.05 to $118.20, according to Comcast, so apparently the sluggish economy isn't quite that sluggish.

While it's easy to be wary of Comcast's size, Comcast's at least putting money back into the network. The company is already quickly approaching 80% coverage for DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades, while the nation's second largest carrier (Time Warner Cable) has barely managed to upgrade just one. Meanwhile, investment into mobile wireless (which may be ramping up this year) should give them an edge as the "quadruple play" (voice/broadband/TV/wireless) finally becomes a realistic option.

Most recommended from 39 comments


Flycat
join:2003-05-12
Lawrence, MA

2 recommendations

Flycat

Member

It all makes sense now

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It's called: Evolution!
Rick5
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06

2 recommendations

Rick5

Premium Member

Staggering..

especially in this economy...

"However, they added 410,000 digital video customers, 247,000 broadband customers, and 243,000 digital voice customers on the quarter."

Like so many other providers out there..this company does not make excuses. They execute and perform and get the job done.

We've seen them here on this site month after month simply doing things that other providers just won't do. Address the caps issue with very generous caps...double peoples speeds at no additional cost to them. And literally in about a years time transform this entire countries network into a docsis 3.0 one.
With no real competition even to prompt them to do this.

That is why this company deserves the success they're enjoying..and why they deserve kudos.

They're not making economic excuses. They're getting the job done and are a model for businesses everywhere I think.
Especially for a company this size to be able to change and adapt so quickly..that's really what is separating them from others.

Time Warner..what is WRONG with you? You need to look within and not rest on your past laurels to determine your companies and customers futures.

AT&T..(American tie you up and torture you)...what is WRONG with you? You need to look within..(particularly your executive ranks I think and throw them out)...and realize that you cannot rest on 60 year old infrastructure. And that is particularly true because you can AFFORD to change. But you won't.

People have SEEN your numbers..and now see the numbers of a company who WILL perform. Who WILL invest in the future.

And it's not hard to see why they're winning.

And don't ever think that it can't get worse for you. Because the nations # 3 phone company..can also become the nations # 2 phone company.

And the nations # 1 phone company.

Keep ignoring what is happening. Keep burying your head in your shareholders gotta eek out every dime profit sand...

And that is what is in store for you.

There is no longer any doubt about that whatsoever.

It is now the rise of the machines.

And that machine..is called Comcast.