Verizon Communications has reported significant expansion in its 5G Home Internet service, adding 319,000 new 5G Home Internet subscribers during the fourth quarter of 2025. This surge elevated the total subscriber base to over 5.7 million, underscoring the company’s accelerating push into high-speed broadband alternatives amid a competitive telecommunications landscape. The additions represent a key component of Verizon’s broader mobility and broadband strategy, which saw overall net gains of 372,000 broadband customers in the same period, including contributions from both fixed wireless and fiber optic services.
This comes as Comcast lost over 700,000 internet customers in 2025 as Cord Cutting 2.0 grows.
Cord Cutting 2.0 represents the evolved next phase of the original “cord cutting” movement. While Cord Cutting 1.0 focused on consumers ditching expensive traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions in favor of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube TV, Cord Cutting 2.0 extends this rebellion to home internet service itself. Frustrated by rising prices, data caps, and limited options from dominant cable providers such as Comcast and Spectrum, many households are now “cutting the cord” on their broadband connections and switching to competitive alternatives. These include fiber-optic networks from providers like Google Fiber or local ISPs, 5G home internet from carriers such as T-Mobile and Verizon, fixed wireless access, and satellite options like Starlink. This shift, accelerating notably in the mid-2020s, is eroding the near-monopoly grip that cable companies once held over home internet, delivering consumers greater choice, often better speeds, and significant cost savings while reshaping the telecommunications landscape.
Throughout 2025, Verizon’s 5G Home Internet segment demonstrated consistent momentum, with the company accumulating approximately 1.1 million new subscribers for the year. This growth built upon a base of nearly 4.6 million at the end of 2024, reflecting an annual increase of about 24 percent. The fourth-quarter performance, while slightly lower than the 373,000 additions recorded in the final quarter of 2024, still marked a solid close to the year and aligned with Verizon’s efforts to capture market share from traditional cable providers. Analysts have noted that this trajectory positions Verizon to challenge rivals in the fixed wireless space, where demand for reliable, wireless-based home internet continues to rise due to its ease of installation and competitive pricing.
The 5G Home additions were part of a larger set of achievements in Verizon’s quarterly results, which included more than 1 million total net additions across mobility and broadband—the highest quarterly figure since 2019. Postpaid phone net additions reached 616,000, contributing to wireless service revenue of $21.0 billion, up 1.1 percent from the previous year. Broadband growth, driven primarily by fixed wireless, complemented 67,000 new Fios internet connections, the strongest fourth-quarter performance for that segment since 2020. Following the recent acquisition of Frontier on January 20, 2026, Verizon’s combined fixed wireless and fiber broadband connections now exceed 16.3 million, providing a substantial footprint for further expansion across more than 30 million homes and businesses nationwide.
Financially, the emphasis on broadband, including 5G Home, supported Verizon’s overall results for 2025. Consolidated operating revenue climbed to $138.2 billion, an increase from $134.8 billion in 2024, while adjusted earnings per share rose to $4.71. Free cash flow improved to $20.1 billion, bolstered by operational efficiencies and strategic investments in network infrastructure. In the fourth quarter alone, operating revenue hit $36.4 billion, with adjusted EBITDA at $11.9 billion. These figures highlight how 5G Home growth is not only expanding customer reach but also contributing to fiscal stability, as the service leverages Verizon’s existing 5G network without the need for extensive new wiring.
Looking ahead, Verizon’s 2026 guidance anticipates continued progress in broadband, with total mobility and broadband service revenue projected to grow by 2.0 to 3.0 percent, reaching around $93 billion. The company plans to add between 750,000 and 1.0 million retail postpaid phone customers, while capital expenditures of $16.0 billion to $16.5 billion will fund at least 2.0 million new fiber passings. This investment strategy aims to sustain the momentum in fixed wireless, with long-term goals set to achieve 8 to 9 million 5G Home subscribers by 2028. The updated agreements with mobile virtual network operators like Charter and Comcast are expected to enhance profitability in this area, ensuring that 5G Home remains a cornerstone of Verizon’s convergence between wireless and broadband services.
The growth in 5G Home subscribers also reflects broader industry trends, where consumers increasingly opt for wireless solutions over traditional wired broadband for their flexibility and speed. Verizon’s network, recognized for its reliability, has enabled median download speeds exceeding 150 Mbps in recent measurements, making it a viable option for streaming, remote work, and gaming. As the company integrates Frontier’s assets, it gains access to new markets, potentially accelerating 5G Home adoption in underserved areas. This positions Verizon to maintain its competitive edge, even as rivals expand their own fixed wireless offerings.
Overall, the 319,000 additions in the fourth quarter cap a transformative year for Verizon’s 5G Home Internet, signaling a shift toward sustainable, volume-driven growth. With a subscriber base now surpassing 5.7 million and ambitious targets on the horizon, the service is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping household connectivity options across the United States.
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