NBN Co experienced a drop in the number of HFC subscribers by almost 5700 in late 2022, which is an unusual event as it breaks the pattern of consecutive growth in HFC services in operation (SIOs) since its introduction.
While a decline in active services in other access technology footprints is expected due to NBN and non-NBN upgrade paths being offered, the reduction in HFC subscribers is puzzling as there is no obvious alternative service being marketed to them.
One possible explanation is that those who left were subscribed to the lowest tier of 12/1Mbps, a group NBN Co has been trying to discourage. However, the SIO losses are of a relatively small quantum and may be reversed in the start of 2023. While NBN Co did not offer any plausible theories, it expressed confidence of a turnaround.
