NTL Ireland revenues rose by 28 per cent in the first quarter to €24.5 million (£17.5 million sterling) as digital subscriber numbers increased.
A price increase introduced in January 2003 and a growth in Digital TV customerscontributed to the higher earnings for the company which emerged from bankruptcy this year.
Revenues from the business sector increased by nearly 50 per cent €3.9 million. NTL Ireland ended the quarter with approximately 366,500 customers. Digital TV customers grew by approximately 7,000 to 44,800.
The company's British operations reported a rise in customers and first-quarter core earnings just ahead of its own forecast despite a decline in turnover.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were £156.5 million sterling in the three months to the end of March, compared with NTL's own forecast of £155 million and a comparable figure of £154 million one year ago.
Turnover fell to £547 million pounds from £556 million in the first quarter of 2002, but EBITDA margin rose to 28.6 per cent from 27.7 per cent as the company cut costs.
"We are very pleased to get this fast start following the completion of our reorganisation in January," chief executive Mr Barclay Knapp said in a statement.