Cable Providers Saw Improved Sentiment in Q2 2026
Cable operators recorded higher net promoter scores as fixed wireless access saw performance declines.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Telecommunications
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Cable operators saw their net promoter scores improve during the second quarter of 2026, marking a positive shift in consumer sentiment. Meanwhile, fixed wireless access providers experienced declining scores across several performance drivers during the same period.
Why it matters
The shift in sentiment was driven by improvements in pricing, installation, and support for cable services, while capacity constraints and reduced introductory pricing hampered fixed wireless performance. These trends highlight the evolving competitive dynamics between traditional cable and newer wireless broadband solutions.
Cable net promoter scores climbed to 3 in Q2 2026, a notable recovery from -7 in Q1 2023. Conversely, total fixed wireless access households reached 18.1 million with 892,000 new subscriptions, despite declining scores across installation and billing metrics.
The players
Optimum
Optimum is a broadband and telecommunications provider that recorded the largest improvement in net promoter scores among cable operators in Q2 2026.
Comcast
Comcast is a major American telecommunications conglomerate that saw the second-largest gain in net promoter scores during the second quarter of 2026.
The details
Cable operators including Optimum and Comcast led the improvement in consumer feedback through refined support and pricing models. At the same time, fixed wireless providers faced headwinds as capacity limits and the withdrawal of aggressive introductory pricing weighed on their performance.
Timeline
Cable net promoter scores were at -7 in Q1 2023.
Cable net promoter scores peaked in 3Q 2024.
Cable operators saw NPS improvements during Q2 2026.
The Tech Race
The resurgence in cable sentiment underscores the intense competition between legacy infrastructure and newer fixed wireless access networks. This shift challenges the narrative that wireless providers would indefinitely dominate broadband growth through aggressive pricing and rapid deployment.
Consumers may find that cable providers are now more competitive on price and customer support than in recent years. Those considering fixed wireless options should be aware that some providers are scaling back promotional pricing and may face network capacity limitations.
The takeaway
The second quarter of 2026 suggests that the broadband market is stabilizing as legacy cable providers refine their service models. Readers should evaluate both cable and fixed wireless options based on current local performance rather than relying solely on past promotional pricing.
Further reading
For more on the changing broadband landscape, visit our Telecommunications section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fierce Network.
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