UPC broadband subscriptions up 35pc to 199,200 customers

25 Feb 2011

Cable broadband provider UPC Ireland reported a 10pc rise in the number of service subscriptions for the past year, with 785,000 subscribers across the country.

Of these, the company said 199,200 were broadband subscribers, up 35pc year-on-year.

Phone customers now stand at 96,400 – a 60pc jump year-on-year.

The company has 381,000 digital TV customers in Ireland, a 9pc growth on the previous year.

“Our Home Phone service is now available to 607,700 homes,” explained Carol Grennan, UPC Ireland’s chief financial officer.

“In the past year, customers’ subscribing to UPC home phone service has grown by 60pc. This record growth clearly demonstrates the overall value of our bundles to consumers looking to save money without compromise.”

UPC’s parent company UPC Holdings reported an 8pc revenue growth to €3.74bn. UPC Holdings’ owner Liberty Global reported a 5pc rise in revenues to US$9bn and an operating profit of US$1.5bn – up 52pc.

“UPC Ireland finished the year strongly. These results demonstrate that consumers are responding positively to the compelling propositions enabled by our fibre-powered network.

“So far, over €450m has been invested in our networks to allow more homes and businesses to benefit from higher broadband speeds, home phone and advanced digital television services.”

UPC’s broadband gains

Grennan said UPC’s broadband offering ended the year with four market-leading tiers 100Mbps, 30Mbps, 20Mbps and 10Mbps.

“The growth of our fibre-power broadband subscriptions clearly indicates consumer demand for these ultra-fast speeds.

“Across our footprint we have now enabled over 80pc of cabled homes for broadband. Our investment in broadband continues to make a real difference to the choice and quality of broadband available to Irish consumers.

“(The year) 2011 is destined to be another exciting year as we plan to further enhance our broadband leadership, securing our superiority over all other providers with even faster speeds,” Grennan concluded.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com