Cable broadband and TV player UPC has ratcheted up its broadband subscriber numbers and now reaches 148,000 subscribers. CEO Robert Dunn said €400 million has been invested in upgrading the company’s Irish network.
The company now passes some 877,400 homes overall, out of which 713,300 are termed revenue-generating units. Subscribers for UPC’s digital cable services stood at 276,900 while subscribers for its analog services stood at 153,600. The company has 74,300 MMDS subscribers.
The company now serves 148,100 homes with high-speed cable broadband and has a total addressable broadband market at present of 593,000 homes.
UPC is currently building out a next-generation network that will offer speeds of up to 120Mbps. The company also plans to offer video-on-demand (VoD) products this year.
The company’s telephony services are subscribed to by 60,400 homes out of an addressable market of 499,200 premises.
The company has changed its accounting rules and has bundled Ireland’s performance in with that of Austria and these now comprise UPC’s Other Western Europe Division.
UPC’s parent company, Liberty Global, reported revenues of US$11.1 billion for 2009, up 4pc, and operating cash flow of US$4.9 billion, up 7pc.
UPC’s Other Western European Division, which includes Ireland, reported revenues of US$835.3 million for the year, up 6.5pc or US$58.5 million year on year.
“UPC Ireland finished the year strongly,” said Dunn. “These results demonstrate that consumers are responding positively to the compelling propositions delivered by our fibre-powered network.
“So far, over €400 million has been invested in our Irish operation to allow more homes and businesses to receive higher-speed broadband, high-definition television and a phone service from one provider. This investment has enabled UPC to bundle these services and pass on savings of over 30pc to customers on their bills.
“(The year) 2010 will be another exciting year as we complete our re-brand to UPC. We also plan to introduce even faster broadband speeds, as well as a video-on-demand service to further enhance our customers’ experience,” Dunn said.
By John Kennedy
Photo: UPC Ireland CEO Robert Dunn
