Pipex is heading for 200,000 broadband punters, it revealed today as it reported that financial figures for the year would be "in line with market expectations".

At the beginning of 2004, Pipex had more than 100,000 broadband punters, but that figure has grown by 67 per cent over the year, taking its current subscriber base to almost 170,000.

The average revenue per broadband punter (ARPU) has also risen by four per cent over the period, reported the company.

Overall, Pipex has 420,000 punters spanning broadband, hosting, domain registrations, private circuits and voice. While part of that has been driven by the rise in broadband punters much of the rest has been derived by acquisition.

Last year, for example, Pipex shelled out £44m to acquire hosting and domain registration provider Host Europe plc and business broadband outfit Nildram.

"The integration of these businesses has gone very well and is in line with management expectations," said the company in a statement to the Stock Exchange.

The ISP also reports that demand for its recently launched VoIP service, and a bundled broadband and voice product, has been "very encouraging".

Pipex is due to report full year results to the end of December 2004 in April. ®

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