Eircom is extending its network upgrade programme to enable more people to receive broadband and reverse a fall-off in subscribers for high-speed internet.

The company confirmed yesterday that it has introduced a new programme to fix the 22 per cent of phone lines that currently cannot carry broadband services to Irish homes and businesses.

David McRedmond, Eircom's commercial director, said the firm estimated that it could upgrade at least half the lines that currently fail line tests for broadband.

He said engineers would be dispatched to people's homes to upgrade lines if they agreed to make a firm order for broadband.

The new upgrade programme is also being made available for customers seeking a service from rival firms such as BT Ireland.

Up until now, Eircom has been criticised for the high percentage of its lines that are unable to provide broadband services.

Even under the new programme, about 9 per cent of lines will not be able to provide the internet service because these homes and businesses are more than four kilometres from a telephone exchange.

Eircom's upgrade programme occurs as the firm reported a drop-off in the rate of increase in broadband subscribers over the past few months.

About 140,000 people have signed up for broadband that runs on Eircom's network.