UPC caps off strong year with one million subscriptions

Communications provider, UPC Ireland has reached the one million subscription milestone, capping off a strong year for the company.

While the company’s total customer/subscriber base rose moderately — by about 6,000 people — to 538,800; UPC’s big gain was in actual subscriptions or RGU’s (revenue generating units).

One subscriber can have up to three subscriptions — via broadband internet, telephone and/or digital television and all three areas rose strongly during 2012.

Total RGUs grew by nearly 12%, last year, from 886,400 to 988,800 and officially passed the one million mark earlier this week.

UPC’s broadband customer numbers rose by 18% in 2012, to reach 304,300. There was a 46% year-on-year increase in its telephone customer base to 238,000 users; while digital television subscriber numbers increased from 331,400 to 383,200 people.

Chief executive Dana Strong said: “Our strategy of focusing on innovative, high-quality products at great value is paying off. We are appealing to households who want the best digital experience.

“Over 85% of our ‘On Demand’-capable customers have used UPC On Demand TV since launch.

“We had a very big and busy year in 2012. Reaching one million subscriptions is the culmination of the great work of our 800 employees and 700 contractors.”

She added that the company has in the past year also made “strong progress” in the business sector, with the UPC Business unit becoming an increasingly important contributor to the Irish arm.

“If you consider that over 90% of all businesses in Ireland are SMEs, we believe we have a real opportunity to help these businesses underpin their growth with reliable and affordable super-fast digital services,” Ms Strong said.