CABLE TELEVISION and telecoms provider UPC Ireland is set to launch high-speed broadband in six towns in the midlands and west of the country over the next three weeks following a €15 million upgrade to its network.
Sligo, Mullingar, Athlone, Newbridge, Carlow and Portlaoise are all set to receive UPC’s fibre-powered broadband and digital and high definition TV services via its cable network.
This will allow homes in these towns to receive broadband speeds of up to 30MB – the fastest available in the country – and will also provide competition to Eircom’s fixed-line telephone services in these areas.
UPC said the investment would make its fibre-powered services available to an additional 45,000 homes, bringing its total for the country to 550,000. This follows a €300 million-plus upgrade of its cable network in recent years.
“This is the completion of a three-year investment programme in these six towns that has seen us completely overhaul and rebuild the cable networks,” said Mark Coan, UPC’s sales and marketing director.
Mr Coan said householders would be able to receive an additional 60 digital TV stations as a result of the upgrade. “Customers will now be able to see the World Cup in HD on the BBC,” he said.
The roll-out will take place over the next three weeks, with Portlaoise the last of the six towns for upgrade on June 22nd.
UPC has been making significant inroads in the broadband and fixed-line markets in recent times.
At the end of March 2010, it had 160,000 broadband customers here, making it the number two player in the market behind Eircom.
