Three months earlier than expected, satellite broadcaster BSkyB has reached its target of seven million subscribers.
In mid-2000 the company said that it aimed to reach a target of seven million subscribers by the end of 2003.
However, by 30th September it had 7,015,000 subscribers.
In Ireland, the company had 605,000 subscribers in by the beginning of August, 2003.
The company now has a target of eight million subscribers by the end of 2005.