The UK CEO of World Online has welcomed the move by the Italian ISP, Tiscali, to acquire the Dutch outfit.

Simon Preston told Reg today: "It means we're backed by a bigger, stronger parent. It gives our consumers even more reassurance about World Online and our ability to deliver the Internet future [that's broadband to you and me] to their homes."

Yesterday, Tiscali said it would take over World Online in a deal worth £3.6 billion creating Europe's second biggest ISP behind Deutsche Telecom's T-Online.

The new merged outfit will drop the name World Online in favour of Tiscali. ®