High-speed broadband options, availability, and competition increase in the U.S.
Broadband availability and quality in the United States has increased markedly over the last seven years, an analysis by Cartesian has found. More households now have access to more options for high-speed internet than ever before, and subscribership has grown substantially.
Our research found that in 2023, more than 90% of households now have access to high-speed internet services (defined as at least 100 Mbps download speed and 20+ Mbps upload speed) from one or more providers, up from 64% in 2017.
Competition in the industry has grown over the same period, too: Just 7% of households had access to two or more providers in 2017. Now, 62% of households have access to multiple internet service providers providing 100/20+ Mbps speeds.
What’s driving broadband growth in the US?
Much of this growth can be attributed to the more diverse mix of broadband options becoming available in recent years. Fiber (FTTH) has grown from 19% to nearly 49% (30%), while fixed wireless (FWA) has grown from 2% to 40% (38%) over that timeframe. Cable systems have also implemented upgrades to support faster speeds, though it has grown more slowly than fiber and fixed wireless.
Get deeper insights with Cartesian
Cartesian is a specialist consulting firm in the telecoms, media and technology sector. For over 30 years, we have advised clients worldwide in strategy development and assisted them in execution against their goals. Our unique portfolio of consulting services and managed solutions are tailored to the specific challenges faced by executives in these fast-moving industries. Combining strategic thinking, robust analytics, and practical experience, Cartesian delivers superior results.
Cartesian has deep experience in assisting broadband providers, industry groups, and government agencies achieve their objectives. We have worked on broadband availability and expansion projects and can provide support across several areas, including:
- Analyzing FCC Broadband Maps and other federal data
- Strategizing around broadband infrastructure development and deployment
Contact us to find out how we can help you.
