In the first quarter of 2009, the top cable operators added 837,114 net broadband subscribers, compared with the 775,326 net broadband subs that the top telcos garnered – giving the top cable ops 52 percent of the net additions for the quarter.

So together, the 20 largest cable and telco providers in the U.S. – which represent about 94 percent of the total broadband market – acquired slightly more than 1.6 million net high-speed Internet subs in the first quarter, according to Leichtman Research Group.

Overall, broadband additions in Q1 2009 amounted to 73 percent of those in Q1 2008 – with cable having 70 percent as many additions as a year ago, and the telcos 77 percent as many additions.

The top broadband providers now account for nearly 69.3 million subscribers – with cable operators responsible for about 37.7 million (55 percent), and the telcos about 31.5 million.

“Net broadband additions in Q1 2009 were about 600,000 more than in Q4 2008, and the most since the first quarter of 2008,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for LRG. “Yet, given the traditional seasonality of the broadband industry, it should not be a surprise if net adds in Q2 2009 are half of what they were in Q1 2009.”