Excite@Home Surpasses 2 Million Broadband Subscribers

Two‑Million Milestone and What It Means for Consumers

Excite@Home has just crossed a landmark that no other provider has achieved - more than two million active high‑speed, always‑on subscribers. The company announced the milestone today, emphasizing that the figure is exclusive of the new subscribers that will be added under the Excite Chello partnership announced last July. With this achievement, Excite@Home becomes the pioneer in delivering a mainstream broadband experience that is reliable, fast, and ready for the growing appetite for online content and communication.

The surge in subscribers came in a relatively short period. From the first million sign‑ups in December 1999, the company added a second million in just eight months. That pace suggests a market that is not only hungry for speed but also willing to shift away from dial‑up and other slower options. The company’s focus on delivering a bundled media experience - through the Excite portal and its array of interactive services - appeared to resonate with users who value an all‑in‑one platform.

“Clearly consumers want a high‑speed, always‑on Internet connection through which to experience content and communication services in our optimized environment,” said George Bell, chairman and chief executive officer of Excite@Home. “Our cable partners have been instrumental in helping us achieve this milestone through their efforts at system upgrades and customer installations. Subscriber numbers will continue to explode as people increasingly realize the benefits of a fast, always‑on connection coupled with rich, personalized content.”

Bell’s remarks highlight the collaborative nature of broadband roll‑out. Cable operators invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades - adding more capacity to their local loops and deploying DOCSIS‑enabled modems - to support the higher bandwidth demands of millions of new users. In return, Excite@Home’s marketing and service ecosystem attracted customers who sought an all‑inclusive package: fast connectivity, a rich content library, and an intuitive user interface.

Beyond the headline number, the real significance lies in the shift toward broadband as a mainstream utility. When Excite@Home launched its @Home service in 1996, the concept of a constantly connected network was still a novelty. Today, the combination of broadband and media has become so embedded that it feels almost inevitable. For consumers, the ability to stream high‑definition video, play online games, and conduct video calls with minimal latency has become a new standard for daily life.

In markets where Excite@Home is available, the service quickly climbs to become the second most popular internet service provider after the incumbent. That rapid ascent speaks to the high satisfaction rates and the strong word‑of‑mouth momentum that the brand enjoys. With a user base of two million, Excite@Home now stands in a unique position to shape broadband usage patterns and to influence the broader industry as it looks toward the next wave of technological innovations.

Moving forward, Excite@Home plans to maintain its growth trajectory by expanding its reach through strategic partnerships and by continually enhancing its service portfolio. The addition of Excite Chello subscribers will boost the overall subscriber count, but it also brings fresh demand for more robust content offerings and new features such as personalized search and targeted advertising. This is where Excite@Home’s experience in media and advertising will give it a competitive edge.

As the company pushes toward a three‑million subscriber goal by the end of 2000 - excluding the Excite Chello additions - the next logical step is to sustain user engagement and retention. This will involve investing in customer support, improving network reliability, and offering value‑added services that keep users loyal. The company’s focus on an integrated media and connectivity platform positions it well to capture the evolving needs of the digital consumer.

Broadband Growth Trends and Future Outlook

In September 1996, when the @Home service first launched, broadband was a term that most consumers had only heard about in passing. At that time, the global subscriber base for high‑speed Internet connections was below 200,000, according to the Multimedia Telecommunications Association. By 1997, that number had climbed modestly, but the pace of growth was still slow compared to the explosive increases that followed.

Fast forward to the end of 2000, and market analysts predicted a jump to 4.4 million broadband subscribers - a 22‑fold increase over just three years. eMarketer’s forecasts placed the total number of broadband users at 13 million by the end of 2002, reflecting a sustained upward trend. These projections underline the fact that broadband is no longer a niche service but a burgeoning mainstream offering that consumers are actively seeking.

The data reveals a pattern: initial growth is slow, but once a critical mass of users is reached, adoption accelerates dramatically. Excite@Home’s trajectory exemplifies this trend. It took nearly four years to reach one million subscribers, but the next million arrived in only eight months. That rapid uptake suggests that consumer demand is now less about curiosity and more about necessity. People are realizing that a fast, always‑on connection is a prerequisite for modern entertainment, work, and communication.

Moreover, broadband’s impact on media consumption has been profound. Excite’s broadband portal saw its page views double since the launch of the @Home service. The synergy between connectivity and content is a powerful driver of subscriber growth. As users spend more time online, they demand richer experiences - streaming high‑definition video, downloading large files, and engaging with interactive services. These demands push providers to invest in faster infrastructure and better content distribution networks.

From a competitive standpoint, Excite@Home holds a strong position. The company ranks first in total North American broadband subscribers, and it sits eighth when measured against dial‑up ISPs. In each market where it operates, the service typically becomes the second most popular ISP within two years of launch. This consistent performance indicates that the combination of speed, service quality, and content value is resonating with consumers across diverse demographics.

Looking ahead, the industry faces several challenges and opportunities. One challenge is the need to continue scaling network capacity as more users demand higher bandwidth for emerging services such as high‑definition streaming, cloud gaming, and real‑time collaboration tools. Another challenge is maintaining competitive pricing while delivering value. However, opportunities abound in the form of new revenue streams - such as advertising partnerships, premium content subscriptions, and bundled services that combine broadband with home entertainment and security solutions.

The Excite Chello transaction is expected to accelerate subscriber growth and open new avenues for content monetization. By merging its broadband infrastructure with chello’s data services, Excite@Home can offer a more integrated experience that blends voice, data, and video. This integration is likely to attract customers who seek a seamless digital lifestyle, further cementing broadband’s status as an essential service.

In sum, broadband has moved from a novelty to a foundational element of daily life. Excite@Home’s two‑million subscriber milestone marks a pivotal moment that reflects broader market dynamics. The rapid growth, strong consumer demand, and expanding partnership landscape suggest that broadband’s upward trajectory is far from slowing. Companies that can deliver reliable speed, compelling content, and a cohesive user experience will continue to shape the future of online connectivity.