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Comcast Says There's 6 Million Unhappy DSL Users Left to Target

As we noted last week, cable is effectively demolishing phone companies when it comes to new broadband subscriber additions, and Comcast still says the company has plenty of room to grow. Comcast and Charter alone added 500,000 net broadband subscribers last quarter, while the nation's biggest telcos collectively lost 360,783 broadband users during the same period. With AT&T and Verizon backing away from unwanted DSL users, and Windstream Frontier and CenturyLink only eyeing piecemeal upgrades, the bloodshed is far from over.

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Speaking this week at the Nomura 2016 Media, Telecom & Internet Conference, Comcast VP Marcien Jenckes stated that the company has plenty of unhappy DSL customers left to nab.

In fact, Comcast says the company still has around 6 million DSL subscribers in its territory, many of which are likely frustrated by outdated speeds. According to Jenckes, this means Comcast "still has a long runway" to sustain broadband growth while many of the nation's DSL providers continue to lose customers each quarter.

It's not an easy position for many of these phone companies to be in. Companies like CenturyLink and Frontier take on such much debt and added support costs in deals acquiring unwanted AT&T and Verizon DSL customers, they have less money to spend on upgrades. And that's on top of the fact that investors by and large don't want to see ISPs seriously investing in upgrades; somewhat necessary when your core product is broadband and the speeds you're delivering are straight out of 2002.

Most recommended from 67 comments



camper
just visiting this planet
Premium Member
join:2010-03-21
Bethel, CT

19 recommendations

camper

Premium Member

How many unhappy Comcast users are there left to target?

 
If only there were competition to do so.

Darknessfall
Premium Member
join:2012-08-17
Motorola MG8725
Asus RT-N66

2 edits

12 recommendations

Darknessfall

Premium Member

Speeds

Not everyone on DSL is stuck on 3 Mbps or less. If I really wanted to, I qualify for 115/12 DSL from Frontier. It's not always about speed. In my case, my current price from Frontier is less than it would be if I were to go to Comcast. If Comcast really wanted to compete, they would offer more competitive pricing.
me1212
join:2008-11-20
Lees Summit, MO
·Google Fiber

8 recommendations

me1212

Member

I dont understand telcos man.

Cable is approaching 1 gpbs speed(download), dsl users are luck to get 6 mbps. So instead up starting upgrades to get 1gpbs like cable will be doing(has started for comcast and another iirc) they buy old copper lines verizon and att dont want and get in more debt that wont help them at all. I don't get it, upgrade your network, get customers from cable back(symmetrical speeds that meet or beat cable can help) then buy more lines.

Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY

8 recommendations

Transmaster

Member

In a Copper Ghetto

I have Centurylink and yes it is getting increasingly hard to put up with the speed I have 12mbps but the local cable company is so bad with customer service that I am willing to put up with what I have. What I would like to see is the cable industry regulated just like the Telco's always have been. As it is the cable industry especially in areas with little meaningful competition can do anything they want to you and you have no recourse. I have called Comcast to ask about internet service and I make it clear all I want is internet service and the wazoo on the other end tries to sell be bundled this and that and will not take no for an answer at which point I hang up on them.

davidc502
join:2002-03-06
Mount Juliet, TN

7 recommendations

davidc502

Member

How many unhappy with Cable?

How many unhappy customers on Comcast just waiting for Google fiber?
bcltoys
join:2008-07-21

1 edit

5 recommendations

bcltoys

Member

On the fringe?

And that 6 million number is proly a lot higher with people that have nothing on the fringe's,say a mile or two off Comcast's grid.People that do not have choice's out in rural area's will continue to not have any choice till someone step's in and say you must cover everybody in your franchise area's.Like that's going to happen. NOT

batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ

5 recommendations

batterup

Premium Member

I would rather use tin cans and string than Comcast.

Comcast it truly an evil company.
ohreally
join:2014-11-21

4 recommendations

ohreally

Member

How many of those...

are on the fringes of Comcast's network, can't get connected without substantial construction, etc?