XM Satellite Radio announced Oct. 3 that it added more than 617,000 new net subscribers during the third quarter 2005, a 48 percent increase compared to the more than 415,000 new net subscribers added during the third quarter 2004. XM said it ended the third quarter 2005 with more than 5.03 million subscribers.

“During the third quarter, we increased our lead as the number-one satellite radio company by topping 5 million subscribers, and we expect to surpass 6 million by the end of the year,” XM President and CEO Hugh Panero said in a statement. “This was our best third quarter ever, and we expect the fourth quarter to be the most successful in the history of our company.”