Q2 2026 Mid-Quarter Broadband Intelligence

The US broadband market is becoming increasingly competitive in 2026. While cable providers are still losing subscribers, the pace of decline appears to be slowing. Comcast lost 65,000 broadband subscribers and Charter lost 120,000 in Q1, but both companies reported improving year-over-year trends for the first time since 2020.^[1]

At the same time, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) continues to gain momentum. T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T now serve more than 20 million FWA subscribers combined,^[2] making wireless broadband a significant competitive force. However, Verizon recently signaled a stronger focus on fiber expansion, with CEO Dan Schulman noting that "Fiber has inherent advantages over FWA, and we're going to prioritize [fiber] where we have coverage."^[3]

Fiber providers are also continuing to expand their presence. AT&T reported record fiber growth in Q1, while providers such as Metronet, Google Fiber, Brightspeed, and Fidium are steadily building their networks across the country.

But are these trends continuing as Q2 unfolds?

To answer that question, Mobilewalla Switcher Insights analyzed broadband switching activity across US markets from March 9 through May 18. By comparing actual consumer switching behavior with the outlook shared during Q1 earnings calls, the data reveals which trends are gaining momentum, which are slowing down, and where the competitive landscape may be shifting in unexpected ways.

The Scorecard

What the data says about Q1 trajectories vs. Mobilewalla Q2 Signal: Stick or Twist?

Sources: Q1 2026 earnings calls (Comcast, Charter, AT&T, Verizon). Switching data: Mobilewalla Switcher Insights (Mar 9 – May 18, 2026). All net rate figures from source data — see Calculations appendix.

Net Switching Position: Mid Q2 2026

All values derived from Mobilewalla Switcher Insights panel. Not absolute subscriber counts — relative proportions of panel sample. Mar 9 – May 18, 2026.

Three Trends Emerging from Broadband Switching Data

1. Cable Providers Are Responding, but Subscriber Losses Continue

During Charter's Q1 earnings call, CEO Chris Winfrey described the company's challenge as a "top-of-funnel issue," meaning it needs to attract more new customers.^[5] Our switching data supports that view through mid-Q2. Spectrum posted a net switching rate of -28%, Xfinity -25%, Cox -48%, and Optimum -33%, making cable some of the largest net losers in the dataset.

Where are those customers going? Approximately 43% switch to fiber providers, while another 25% move to FWA services. The competitive pressure from fiber and wireless broadband remains strong, and there is little evidence that the trend is slowing.

Cable operators are not standing still. Comcast has introduced simpler pricing and now bundles a free wireless line with broadband service. The strategy appears to be gaining traction, with Comcast adding a record 435,000 wireless subscribers in Q1.^[4]

Charter is taking a different approach. The company is maintaining strong profitability while investing heavily in network upgrades, including a record $11.4 billion capital expenditure program focused on multi-gigabit DOCSIS 4.0 technology.^[10]

Some analysts believe these market pressures could eventually lead to industry consolidation, with JPMorgan and New Street Research highlighting a potential Comcast-Charter merger as one possible outcome.^[11] For now, however, switching data shows that cable providers are still losing ground. The industry's response is underway, but the impact has not yet appeared in customer switching behavior.

2. Fiber and Wireless Bundling Is Starting to Pay Off

AT&T has argued that customers who use both its fiber and wireless services are more loyal and more valuable over time. Early switching data suggests that strategy may be working.

AT&T's combined fiber and FWA services generated a net switching rate of +13%, attracting customers from cable providers, competing FWA services, and smaller fiber operators. The company reports that 42% of AT&T Fiber households also subscribe to AT&T wireless services,^[7] and its recently launched AT&T OneConnect offering combines fiber and wireless into a single subscription.

The strongest performance comes from AT&T Internet Air, which recorded a net switching rate of +50% — the highest FWA score in the dataset. While it is still early, the data suggests the service is gaining traction in the markets where it has been launched.

3. Regional Fiber Providers Are Winning Market Share

One of the most notable findings in the data comes from regional fiber providers rather than the industry's largest operators.

Companies such as Metronet, Google Fiber, Vexus Fiber, Fidium, and Brightspeed do not typically receive the same attention as publicly traded broadband providers, and many do not regularly report subscriber numbers. As a result, their growth is often difficult to measure.

Mobilewalla Switcher Insights provides a clearer view. Metronet recorded a net switching rate of +55%, followed by Vexus at +41%, Google Fiber at +40%, and Brightspeed at +39%. These are the four strongest customer acquisition performances in the dataset.

The next growth driver for this group could be BEAD, the $42.45 billion federal broadband expansion program, which has now moved from planning to active deployment.^[12] Brightspeed alone has secured more than $528 million in BEAD funding across 17 states.^[9]

Many regional and cooperative broadband providers have won funding in underserved markets where broadband competition has historically been limited. These are also the markets where switching data shows some of the strongest gains for regional fiber providers. As new networks are built between 2026 and 2028, the momentum seen in today's switching data could become even more pronounced.

What This Means for the Market

Broadband switching data through mid-Q2 2026 suggests that several of the trends highlighted during earnings season are continuing to play out, although not always in the ways operators expected. Cable providers remain under pressure as subscribers continue to move to fiber and fixed wireless alternatives, while AT&T's fiber and wireless bundling strategy is showing encouraging early results.

Perhaps the most notable finding is the strength of regional fiber providers. Companies such as Metronet, Brightspeed, Vexus, and Google Fiber are generating some of the strongest subscriber gains in the market, positioning them to benefit further as BEAD-funded deployments expand.

As the broadband market continues to evolve, switching behavior provides an important indicator of which competitive strategies are resonating with consumers and where momentum is building across the industry.

To learn more about how Mobilewalla Switcher Insights tracks broadband provider switching and competitive market trends, contact our team or request a demo.

Appendix A — Citations

Sources & References

[1] Moffett, Craig (MoffettNathanson). “Commentary on Comcast Q1 2026 results.” Fierce Network, April 23, 2026
[2] Verizon, T-Mobile. “Q1 2026 Earnings Releases — FWA subscriber disclosures.” Investor Relations, April 2026
[3] Schulman, Dan (Verizon CEO). “Verizon Q1 2026 Earnings Call transcript.” Light Reading, April 28, 2026
[4] Cavanagh, Mike (Comcast co-CEO). “Comcast Q1 2026 Earnings Call transcript.” Fierce Network / SEC 8-K, April 23, 2026
[5] Winfrey, Chris (Charter CEO). “Charter Q1 2026 Earnings Call transcript.” The Motley Fool, April 24, 2026
[6] Mobilewalla. “Switcher Insights Panel — Net Switching Rate Calculations.” Mobilewalla Internal, Mar 9 – May 18, 2026. See Calculations Appendix B
[7] Stankey, John (AT&T CEO); Desroches, Pascal (CFO). “AT&T Q1 2026 Earnings Call transcript & press release.” AT&T IR / SEC 8-K, April 22, 2026
[8] One Touch Intelligence. “Verizon Plans Big Fiber Push As Part of Its Convergence Strategy.” One Touch Intelligence, May 26, 2026
[9] Brightspeed. “BEAD Program Wins Total More Than $528M.” Brightspeed Press Release, October 3, 2025
[10] Nazym Altbridge. “The Telecommunications Crucible: Analyzing Charter Q1 2026.” Substack, April 27, 2026
11] Various analysts. “More Eye-Popping Mergers Ahead: Comcast And Charter?.” MediaPost, May 4, 2026
[12] NTIA / BroadbandUSA. “Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.” NTIA.gov, 2026
[13] BroadbandNow Research. “BEAD Grants – Timeline, Allocations, Key Statistics.” BroadbandNow, March 2025

Appendix B — Calculations

Net Switching Rate: Methodology & Full Results

Net switching rate is calculated as follows: Net Rate = (Gross Gained − Gross Lost) ÷ ((Gross Gained + Gross Lost) ÷ 2) × 100


This symmetric rate measures net subscriber flow as a percentage of the average of total flows through a carrier in both directions, providing a size-normalised view of competitive position. A rate of +28% means a carrier gained 28% more subscribers than it lost, relative to its total switching volume. A rate of −28% means it lost 28% more than it gained.

All figures are derived from Mobilewalla Switcher Insights panel data (Mar 9 – May 18, 2026), aggregated nationally across all DMA markets and all four bi-weekly observation periods. Gross Gained and Gross Lost represent actual device counts from the panel. The net rate figures are exact calculations from this source data and are consistent throughout the document.

Full Net Switching Rate Table — All Key Carriers, Mar 9 – May 18, 2026

Gross Gained and Gross Lost are absolute device counts from the Mobilewalla panel (not indexed). Net Rate calculated using formula above.

All figures derived directly from Mobilewalla Switcher Insights panel, aggregated across all DMAs, Mar 9 – May 18 2026. Device counts are panel observations, not absolute market subscriber counts.

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