NTL Ireland has reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £4 million sterling (€6.3 million) for the three months to the end of June, an increase of £1 million on the same period last year.

Revenues at the cable television firm, which is owned by the bankrupt British firm NTL Group, also increased sharply following the telecoms regulator's decision to sanction a price rise last year.

NTL Ireland, which provides television services to 371,600 households in Dublin, Waterford and Galway, increased revenues to £15 million at the group, up from £10 million last year.

The results show that just 22,000 NTL customers in the Republic have subscribed to its digital television offering.

This is significantly below the company's main rival, Sky, which has signed up 240,000 Irish households to digital TV.

Mr Liam Duggan, acting managing director of NTL Ireland, said the results were strong in a competitive market.

"Our focus for the remainder of 2002 will be on developing our digital product and improving customer service," he said.

NTL Group's global operations reported a fall in quarterly profit and a loss of 70,000 British customers.

But the company said it made significant progress in its financial restructuring, with September 5th slated as the date for court confirmation of its reorganisation plan.