BSkyB now has more than half a million digital satellite customers in Ireland, a feat the British pay- TV company described yesterday as a "real milestone".

In a statement to coincide with the publication of the company's full-year results, BSkyB said it added 70,000 new Sky digital customers in Ireland in the year to the end of June, bringing the total number of Irish subscribers to 497,000. Since the end of June, the company said, it had continued to sign up new customers and the total number of Irish subscribers now topped 500,000.

Delia Bushell, managing director of Sky Ireland, welcomed the rate of new additions and said achieving half a million customers was a "real milestone for Sky Ireland".

Across the whole group, BSkyB posted a 10 per cent increase in revenue to £4.6 billion (€6.8 billion) last year. The company attributed the gains in part to its successful move into the broadband market.

The company, which revealed earlier this month that it was the fastest growing broadband provider in the country, said underlying operating profit increased 6 per cent, to £958 million.

Reported operating profit of £815 million included an exceptional gain of £49 million, but it was still down on last year's £877 million due to broadband investment.

On a conference call with reporters, chief financial officer Jeremy Darroch said the group would not change its broadband spending forecast for £400 million over three years.

Chief executive James Murdoch said BSkyB had started the new financial year with confidence. "This year has been one of enormous importance and change for us, with the launch of our broadband and talk services transforming our business and our future prospects fundamentally," he said.

The company raised its dividend by 27 per cent, to 15.5 pence. - (Additional reporting, Reuters)