Brightview - the privately funded UK-based outfit that includes IC24, Madasafish and Totalise among its stable of service providers - has bought the UK-based consumer ISP business that previously belonged to US telco XO Communications.

As part of the deal Brightview has acquired three ISPs, Globalnet.co.uk, Freenetname.co.uk, and Dialstart.net.

It has also acquired call centre operations with 45 full-time staff and technical infrastructure equipment worth more than £8m.

Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Like Carlsberg, which reckons it is probably the best lager in the world, Brightview believes that with more than half a million active users, it is "probably the UK's largest independent ISP."

But unlike other companies which have acquired ISPs only to rebrand them under a single identity, Brightview is keen to maintain the distinctiveness and individuality of each ISP.

It also intends to concentrate on being an access-only business and won't be distracted by chasing cash generated by ecommmerce or advertising.

Oh, and Brightview is also looking to trial broadband for some of its users over the next couple of months. ®