Who Was UPC?

UPC (United Philips Cable), also known as UPC Holdings, was a European telecommunications company, tracing its founding to Amsterdam in 1995 with a partnership between United International Holdings, and Philips. The organization is owned by telecoms giant Liberty Global.

Timeline of Major Changes

  • 1995: Founded as United Philips Cable
  • 1997: Acquired Philips shares, renamed United-Pan-Europe Communications
  • 1999: Listed on Euronext Amsterdam
  • 2005: Liberty Media International merged with United International Holdings to form Liberty Global; Liberty Global acquired NTL Ireland
  • 2006: Chorus joins NTL, becomes Chorus NTL, later Chorus i.e., then UPC Ireland
  • 2015: UPC purchased TV3 for €80 Million
  • 2015: UPC merged with Virgin Media Ireland
  • 2021: Liberty Global reportedly seeking to sell Virgin Media Ireland

Who Is Liberty Global?

Liberty Global operates under the consumer brands of Virgin Media, Telenet, Unitymedia and UPC. The organization employs 20,600 employees and accumulated almost 10.5 billion euros in annual revenue in 2019, making them the world's largest broadband company.

So Am I With Liberty Global or Virgin Media?

Direct service providers handle customer relationships, not parent companies. Most companies can trace their ownership to a parent company or brand, but in day-to-day life, you will only ever need to deal with the direct company with which you have made your contract.

What Services Did UPC Offer?

UPC focused on three market areas: cable television, broadband, and fixed-line telephone services, available individually or bundled as a "Tripleplay Bundle."

What Was UPC Mediabox?

The UPC Mediabox was introduced to Irish customers in December 2007 as a Digital+ or Digital+HD Box, enabling access to expanded freeview channels, recording capabilities, and applications like Netflix.

  • December 2009: HDTV service launched
  • December 2012: On-demand TV service introduced
  • December 2013: Horizon TV service enabled multi-device viewing
  • December 2013: Horizon HD+ box launched with recording capabilities for up to four simultaneous programs

Find the Best Broadband Deal in Your Area!

Our broadband experts at Selectra can help you secure a fast, affordable plan in your area — completely free.

Ad - Selectra Service
This is a free call from Ireland. Selectra agents can assist you with comparing and switching energy providers on weekdays between 9 am and 5.30 pm.

What's the Connection Between UPC and Virgin Media?

As of the merging of UPC and Virgin Media in 2015, all services have been transferred to the Virgin brand. Existing services were continued where possible under the Virgin name.

How Has Virgin Media Done in the Broadband Market?

Virgin Media expanded UPC's offering into fibre-cable-television, broadband, mobile phone contracts, and telephone support. The company supports 993,700 customers across Ireland with approximately 26% of all broadband subscriptions as of December 2019.

December 2015 brought Virgin Mobile launches using Three's infrastructure, reaching around 2.2% of the population by autumn 2020.

What New UPC Services Are There With Virgin Media?

Historical context: UPC launched 100Mbps service in December 2010, increased to 150Mbps maximum residential speed by December 2012.

Virgin Media currently provides 250Mbps, 500Mbps and 1Gbps speeds depending on package preferences and fibre availability.

  • 5 Mbps: Basic Netflix streaming in low definition
  • 10 Mbps: One person to reliably work from home
  • 25 Mbps: Light use with two devices
  • 25-35 Mbps: Advisable as a minimum standard for online gaming
  • 100 Mbps: Minimum for light businesses of up to 10 users
  • 300+ Mbps: Medium to larger businesses

How Can I Get in Touch with UPC Ireland?

As UPC has become a part of the Virgin Media group, they no longer operate independent call centres or have contactable departments regarding the service that they have offered in the past.

How Can I Get in Touch with UPC Ireland comparison table
Contact Method Details
Calling from Abroad 00 353 1 2458000
Existing Customer/Customer Care 1908
New Customers/Non Customers 1800 940070
Office Hours Mon - Sat 9am to 6pm
Postal Address Virgin Media Ireland, Limerick Enterprise Development Park, Roxboro Road, Limerick

Virgin Media provides support via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Find the Best Broadband Deal in Your Area!

Our broadband experts at Selectra can help you secure a fast, affordable plan in your area — completely free.

Ad - Selectra Service
This is a free call from Ireland. Selectra agents can assist you with comparing and switching energy providers on weekdays between 9 am and 5.30 pm.

Frequently Asked Questions About UPC

UPC Ireland merged with Virgin Media in 2015. All UPC broadband, TV, and phone services were transferred to the Virgin Media brand. If you were a UPC customer, your account was automatically migrated to Virgin Media.

No, UPC no longer operates independent customer support in Ireland. All queries should be directed to Virgin Media Ireland by calling 1908 (existing customers) or 1800 940070 (new customers), Monday to Saturday 9am–6pm.

Virgin Media currently offers speeds of 250Mbps, 500Mbps, and 1Gbps — significantly faster than UPC's original maximum of 150Mbps. You can compare broadband deals to find the best package for your needs.

Virgin Media Ireland is owned by Liberty Global, the world's largest broadband company. Liberty Global also operates under consumer brands including Telenet, Unitymedia, and UPC in other European markets.

It depends on your needs and location. Ireland has many competitive broadband providers. Use our coverage checker to see what's available at your address, or read our guide on how to switch broadband.

Related guides