Virgin Mobile says discussions with cableco NTL about a possible £900m takeover are "ongoing" and it hopes to make further announcements about the tie-up "in due course".

This brief update came as the cellco announced its latest set of figures for the three months to December. According to the bean counters, service revenues were up 20 per cent, the amount each punter spent (ARPU) hit £121, while the total number of active users increased 12 per cent to 4.3m.

And what did he have to say about NTL's proposed buy-out of Virgin Mobile? "Our discussions with NTL about a potential offer are ongoing and we will make further announcements about these in due course."

In December it emerged that NTL, which hooked up with cable outfit Telewest, was in talks to buy-up Virgin Mobile. But the board of Virgin Mobile "unanimously rejected" the £817m bid for the cellco saying that it "undervalued" the business. NTL has since upped its bid to more than £900m and the two sides are still talking. ®

Related stories

• NTL confirms Virgin Mobile buy-out (4 April 2006)
• NTL-Virgin Mobile tie-up expected soon...again (3 April 2006)
• NTL trials 100Mb broadband (10 February 2006)
• Europe to embrace triple play (25 January 2006)
• 'Clear demand' for mobile TV, says O2 (18 January 2006)
• NTL / Virgin Mobile deal inches forward (17 January 2006)
• NTL ups bid for Virgin (16 January 2006)
• Stakes raised in NTL - Virgin Mobile bid talks (9 January 2006)
• Cellco staff muddled by own tariffs (6 January 2006)
• NTL rejigs senior management (15 December 2005)
• Branson ready to break Virgin Mobile/NTL stalemate (12 December 2005)
• NTL stands by £817m bid for Virgin Mobile (9 December 2005)