Virgin Media Ireland sees 3pc revenue growth in first half of 2021

30 Jul 2021

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The telco saw data usage on its network rise by 91pc compared with the first half of 2020.

Virgin Media Ireland has announced its half-year financial results, posting €224m in revenue to the end of June 2021. This figure represents 3pc year-on-year growth for the TV, mobile and broadband provider.

Data usage across the company’s network rose by 91pc, likely because the comparable period last year included several pre-pandemic months for Ireland. Virgin Media said its Irish customers use an average of 19GB per day, a figure driven by video conferencing and other tools for remote working and learning.

The company added 5,000 new broadband subscribers compared to the same period last year and said “more customers” were switching to its flagship 1GB package, which is available to 99pc of the country.

Virgin also added 22,500 new TV subscribers compared with last year. Virgin Media Television, the company’s own suite of four channels, grew by 11pc year on year to make up 18.2pc of subscribers’ total viewing, on average. Virgin Mobile added 19,900 new subscribers.

“Our continued investments in network technology and product innovation are ensuring that customers get the best-connected entertainment experience, all made possible by Ireland’s fastest broadband network,” said Tony Hanway, CEO of Virgin Media Ireland.

“I’d like to thank each and every member of the Virgin Media team for a strong set of half-year results and for continuing to work tirelessly right through the Covid crisis.”

Liberty Global bought Virgin Media in 2013 and moved its UPC Ireland business under the brand in 2015.

In late 2020, the telco was ordered by ComReg to refund more than 100,000 Irish customers a total of €3m in post-cancellation charges. During 2021, it announced a plan to roll out free public Wi-Fi in 30 locations across Dublin.

Jack Kennedy is a freelance journalist based in Dublin

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