Research and consulting firm highlights top trends taking shape in the broadband market

At CES® today, Parks Associates announced the Top Five Takeaways from its Broadband Market Tracker, which launched in 2024 to provide quarterly insights reports of key market trends, competitor moves, and partnerships. The Broadband Market Tracker provides estimates for residential home internet subscribers and ISP revenues for the North American market, including those that do not publicly release figures. The service also delivers quarterly reports with key market trends, competitor moves, partnerships, and new research and insights from Parks Associates analysts.

"The US regulatory landscape is on the verge of significant change, with the incoming administration set to reshape policies on BEAD funding, AI regulation, and more,” said Kristen Hanich, Broadband Director, Parks Associates. “Shifting funding priorities may accelerate the rise of wireless and satellite solutions, challenging fiber's strong position. Meanwhile, we are seeing mobile providers starting to eye convergence with satellite networks, sharing plans to offer not just satellite texting but data services within the next year.”

Broadband Market Tracker provides estimates of the growth of MNO fixed wireless service and fiber network composition, as well as detailed profiles of market leaders. The Top Five Takeaways include:

1.    The US regulatory landscape is about to change.
The Trump administration is set to take office in January 2025, which will have significant, long-term implications for telecom and networking equipment, BEAD funding, the Universal Service Fund, AI regulation, and Section 230 protections, among other areas.

2.    A loosened regulatory market will lead to more mergers and acquisitions.
With competition fierce, ISPs are looking to gain advantages through mergers and acquisitions. Many smaller to mid-sized ISPs are privately owned by investor groups seeking returns. A loosened regulatory market creates new opportunities for mergers and acquisitions, with the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and other regulators more likely to grant approvals.

3.    Satellite internet is an increasing threat to traditional broadband in rural markets.
New low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite players are entering the market, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper set to deploy its satellite constellation in early 2025 and roll out service later this year. Satellite players, including Space X’s Starlink, have been competing fiercely against traditional satellite providers, terrestrial fixed wireless providers, and older copper networks.

4.    BEAD may potentially remove the fiber requirement for funding.
The incoming administration is pushing for changes to BEAD policy, particularly the preference for fiber connectivity. These policy changes are likely to negatively impact fiber deployments in BEAD-eligible areas, shifting the market further towards wireless and satellite connectivity, which are less expensive to deploy.

5.    The missed sale of Dish to DIRECTV makes Dish-owner EchoStar a potential acquisition target.
EchoStar’s growing 5G network, spectrum licenses, and growing LEO non-terrestrial network capabilities offer unique opportunities for broadband players, especially as the market increasingly moves towards convergence of cellular and terrestrial internet as well as satellite.

Parks Associates is onsite at CES tracking new product announcements and news, and the firm will host the virtual CONNECTIONS™ session “Future of the Smart Home - Post CES: Innovation and 2025 Trends” on January 23, 12 PM CT. To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific data, please contact Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein, 972-490-1113.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates, a woman-founded and certified business, is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides business intelligence and research services through its proprietary methodologies developed over decades, including quarterly surveys of 10,000 internet households.

The company's expertise crosses many industries: home security and smart home, streaming video, broadband and pay-TV services, digital media and platforms, gaming, Wi-Fi and home networks, connected health, support, consumer electronics, home control systems, energy management, and tech solutions for the multi-dwelling (MDU), small-to-medium business (SMB), and commercial building markets.

Each year, Parks Associates brings thousands of leaders together for its webinars and annual events. The firm hosts the annual executive research and strategy conferences CONNECTIONS™, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. https://www.parksassociates.com

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