From Yahoo Finance · · 2m
Comcast's broadband problem gets a name: $30 fiber
Comcast's CFO calls rival fiber pricing "irrational," and the subscriber numbers say customers are already gone.
In brief
Comcast's CFO calls rival fiber pricing "irrational," and the subscriber numbers say customers are already gone. Comcast is losing broadband customers to cheaper fiber, fixed wireless and soon satellite, and its own CFO says the pressure won't ease this quarter. Originally reported by Yahoo Finance.
The CFO says it out loud
Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong is warning about broadband pricing and the company's near-term performance as Xfinity keeps shedding internet customers.
Almost a million gone
Comcast lost over 700,000 internet customers in 2025 after raising Xfinity prices and tightening its autopay discount. Another 232,000 left in the first half of this year.
Four fronts at once
On July's earnings call Armstrong described a market being squeezed from every direction at the same time.
“Fiber continues to expand, fixed wireless remains aggressive, satellite is emerging as another alternative.”
What irrational means
At a Goldman Sachs conference on Sept. 9, Armstrong put a number on it: standalone fiber selling a gig for $30 to $40 a month. Comcast charges about $50 for the same speed.
“That to us is not a rational price point.”
The math behind the anger
Moving a home from copper to fiber can cost thousands of dollars, Armstrong said. That is why $30 plans look less like competition and more like buying customers.
Fiber is coming faster
Overbuild in Comcast's markets used to run 2% to 3% a year. Armstrong says it is now closer to 4% or 5%, so rivals are reaching more Comcast homes every year.
Q3 won't be better
Armstrong expects full-year subscriber losses to improve but warned this quarter will not beat last year's, blaming the irrational fiber pricing directly.
“I don't think we'll improve year over year.”
Satellite is the slow threat
Starlink passed 12 million customers globally this year. Armstrong says it isn't hurting Comcast yet, but expects it to bite in rural and deep suburban markets.
“Satellite looms out there as a potential threat.”
Why he still likes wire
Higher speeds, lower latency and the cheapest path to upgrade all point the same way, Armstrong argues.
“All those sort of bring you back to you want a wire in the home.”
Customers are fee-tired
A Reviews.org survey found 73% of Americans saw bills rise this year, and 67% said hidden fees made them switch or consider switching providers.
“People want internet pricing to be simple and honest.”
The 2027 split is the bet
Comcast will separate NBCUniversal and Sky from its cable business by mid-2027, with Michael Angelakis returning to run cable. Analyst Craig Moffett warns price cuts alone won't fix it.
“The goal isn't to 'lose less.'”
At a glance
Comcast is losing broadband customers to cheaper fiber, fixed wireless and soon satellite, and its own CFO says the pressure won't ease this quarter.
