Over 80 Percent of U.S. Households Get Broadband at Home

DURHAM, NH — New consumer research from Leichtman Research Group (LRG) found that 81 percent of US households get a broadband Internet service at home, an increase from 26 percent in 2005. Broadband now accounts for 97 percent of all households with Internet service at home — an increase from 91 percent in 2010, and 40 percent in 2005.

Overall, 84 percent of households get an Internet service at home, and 69 percent of adults access the Internet on a smartphone. While the percentage of households getting an Internet service at home is similar to three years ago, those accessing the Internet on a smartphone increased from 44 percent in 2012.

These findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,223 households from throughout the United States and are part of a new LRG study, Broadband Access & Services in the Home 2015. This is LRG's thirteenth annual study on this topic.

Other related findings include:

• 78 percent with broadband at home also access the Internet on a smartphone — compared to 52 percent in 2012


• 31 percent not online at home access the Internet on a smartphone — compared to 12 percent in 2012


• The mean time spent online at home per day among broadband subscribers is 2.9 hours — up from 2.4 hours per day in 2010


• 13 percent of households get a broadband Internet service, but do not subscribe to a pay-TV service, while 68 percent of households get both broadband and pay-TV services


• 32 percent of households with annual incomes under $30,000 do not use a laptop or desktop computer at home — compared to 4 percent with incomes above $50,000


• About 3.5 percent of all households have an iPad or tablet, but do not use a laptop or desktop computer — up from 1 percent in 2013

"Nationwide, about four of every five households now subscribe to a high-speed broadband Internet service, a significant increase from about one in four households having broadband a decade ago," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group. "As the subscriber base has expanded, and broadband users are spending more time online at home, smartphones are also making Internet access more ubiquitous. Overall, 63 percent of adults now get a broadband service at home and also access the Internet on a smartphone compared to 40 percent in 2012."