EarthLink Subscriber Count Falls 23%

EarthLink finished 2009 with its customer count down by more than 600,000 from the prior year, as both narrowband and broadband subscribers dropped off in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, the Atlanta-based Internet service provider said its 2009 financial results exceeded expectations, with an aggressive cost-cutting initiative keeping expenses in line with declining revenues.

EarthLink lost a net 132,000 subs during 4Q09, 28,000 of whom were broadband users. The company ended the year with 804,000 broadband customers, and 1.23 million dial-up users, bringing its total customer count to 2.03 million, down 23% from the year-end 2008 total.

The broadband sub losses ...