Cable operators to double broadband prices over next several years, analyst predicts

Prices charged by cable operators for broadband services will double over the next several years, offsetting declines from broadband saturation and erosion of linear pay-TV services, says New Street Research analyst Jonathan Chaplin. In a note sent out to investors, Chaplin noted that while cable operators continue to steal high-speed internet marketshare from telephone companies, cable companies' rate of Internet service provider customer growth is actually slowing. Chaplin said customer growth came in at 6.4% in the fourth quarter of 2016, down both year-over-year (from 6.9% in Q4 of 2015) and sequentially (down from 6.9% in Q3 of 2016).