Broadband provider TalkTalk saw a significant rise in subscriptions during the third quarter of 2009, it has been revealed.

According to the firm, the telecommunications arm of the Carphone Warehouse, 36,000 new customers signed up for a TalkTalk broadband package between July and September 2009.

Sponsorship of hit ITV show The X-Factor is said to have helped attract new subscribers to the internet service provider's (ISP) range.

Meanwhile, the recently-completed takeover of rival company Tiscali also boosted TalkTalk's customer base.

The broadband provider now has 4.15 million customers, making it the second biggest broadband provider in the UK behind BT.

Last month, TalkTalk criticised U2 singer Bono for suggesting that ISPs are actually benefiting financially from illegal filesharing.

The company stated that the practice generates no additional revenue and actually incurs some costs due to the need for additional bandwidth.