UPC Ireland is to offer customers on its Chorus and NTL networks a free upgrade to digital in an effort to port its remaining analogue customers onto the more bandwidth-efficient digital service.

The Liberty Global-owned cable operator is understood to be investing €10m in the upgrade drive in addition to a rolling network upgrade programme valued at €300m.

As part of the "Digital for All" campaign, UPC customers will be offered a free digital set top box with no additional monthly subscription for 6 months. After that, an additional €2.50 per month will be charged.

"We've been working towards this day for a long time, improving the availability, quality and affordability of our digital TV product," said Simon Kelehan, head of TV at UPC Ireland. "Our products are stronger than ever before and today's announcement makes it easier than ever to upgrade to digital TV. With the price difference between analogue and digital just €2.50 a month, there has never been a better time to go digital."