Optimum Communications (formerly Altice USA) reported revenue of $2.18 billion in Q4 2025, a decline of 2.3 percent. For 2025, revenue reached $8.6 billion, down 4.1 percent compared with 2024.
Optimum posted a net loss of $71.2 million in the fourth quarter. Full-year net loss widened to $1.87 billion, largely due to a $1.6 billion non-cash impairment charge related to cable franchise rights recorded earlier in the year.
EBITDA for full-year 2025 reached approximately $3.4 billion. Notably, Q4 marked the first quarter of year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA growth in 16 quarters, signaling early signs of stabilization.
Broadband and subscriber trends
Optimum ended 2025 with 4.2 million broadband subscribers. The company recorded a loss of 62,000 broadband customers in Q4, compared with a loss of 39,000 in the same quarter of 2024, reflecting continued competitive pressure in the cable market.
Fiber broadband remained a major growth engine. Fiber customers surpassed 700,000, representing roughly 46 percent growth. Fiber network penetration reached 23 percent by the end of the year from 18.2 percent in 2024.
Mobile services expanded rapidly. Optimum reached 622,500 mobile lines, adding 38,100 in Q4 alone and growing mobile lines by 39 percent. Mobile customer penetration of broadband customer base reached 8.3 percent in 2025 from 5.7 percent in 2024.
ARPU trends show resilience
Average revenue per user (ARPU) of Optimum remained stable despite subscriber losses.
Residential ARPU grew 0.4 percent to reach $134.49 in Q4 from $133.28 in Q3.
Broadband ARPU increased 2.8 percent to $76.71 as customers migrated to higher-tier and fiber plans, helping offset subscriber declines.
Capex and cost discipline
Optimum invested heavily in network upgrades and enterprise fiber expansion.
Full-year capital expenditure totaled approximately $1.3 billion, driven primarily by fiber buildouts and investments in Lightpath enterprise fiber infrastructure for hyperscaler customers.
Operating expense control remained a key focus, with both direct costs and other operating expenses totaling about $2.6 billion each for the year.
Rebranding and operational efficiency strategy
In November 2025, the company completed its rebranding from Altice USA to Optimum and adopted the new ticker symbol OPTU. The move aims to simplify brand identity and align consumer, business, and mobile services under a single brand.
The company is also using AI and digital tools to improve customer service efficiency. The unique service visit rate improved by about 20 percent year over year, reducing service calls and truck rolls.
Convergence strategy to reduce churn
Optimum plans to focus on bundled offerings combining broadband and mobile services. The convergence-led go-to-market strategy is designed to improve customer retention and compete more effectively with telecom and fiber rivals.
2026 outlook and long-term targets
Optimum CEO expressed confidence in further stabilization in 2026, with ambitious growth targets centered on fiber and mobile expansion.
Key targets include:
1 million fiber customers by the end of 2026
1 million mobile lines by the end of 2027
Long-term gross margin target of 70 percent
Long-term normalized Adjusted EBITDA margin target of 40 percent
Optimum enters 2026 focused on scaling fiber, expanding mobile services, and improving margins as it continues its multi-year turnaround strategy.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
