Recurring AT&T customers were least likely to also pay a cable operator
Share of recurring carrier customers with charges in at least two months from March–August 2026 who also paid Comcast, Charter/Spectrum, Cox, or Optimum
Share also paying a cable operator
Source: YipitData U.S. credit and debit card panel. AT&T merchant charges can include wireless, fiber, and legacy services, so the measured group is recurring AT&T customers rather than wireless-only customers. Analysis current through August 2026.
Chart data
| Series | Share also paying a cable operator |
|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 17.8% |
| Verizon | 17.2% |
| AT&T | 14.1% |
Observed AT&T card payments stopped at similar rates for customers with and without cable
Share of recurring AT&T customers from September–November 2025 with no observed AT&T charge in June–August 2026, among panelists still active in July–August 2026
Share with no later AT&T card payment
Source: YipitData U.S. credit and debit card panel. AT&T customers who also paid a cable company n=40,162; other AT&T customers n=254,399. Payment stops can reflect account closure, payment-method changes, or family-plan absorption, so the rates support only a relative comparison.
Chart data
| Series | Share with no later AT&T card payment |
|---|---|
| AT&T customers who also paid cable | 18.3% |
| Other AT&T customers | 17.7% |
Did customers who also paid a cable company spend less with AT&T?
No. From March–August 2026, customers who also paid a cable company spent 4.0% more with AT&T over six months, with the same active-month engagement reported for both groups. Because cable-company payments were observed rather than assigned, the comparison is associational and does not show that cable service raised AT&T spending.
Assumptions & Methodologies
We analyzed our U.S. card-transaction panel. Carrier customers had charges in at least two months from March–August 2026; customers with cable had a recurring Comcast, Charter/Spectrum, Cox, or Optimum charge under MCC 4899. The lapse comparison started with recurring AT&T payers from September–November 2025 and checked for AT&T charges in June–August 2026 among panelists active in July–August 2026. AT&T merchant charges can mix wireless, fiber, and legacy services. Payment stops can reflect method changes or family-plan absorption, so lapse rates are valid only as a relative comparison. Results are observational panel estimates.