Kingston Communications acquires business service provider

UK regional fixed line operator Kingston Communications has boosted its converged services portfolio with the acquisition of business applications integration provider Smart421 for GBP24.2 million (USD45 million). Smart421 sells to blue chip organisations, and its major clients including O2, Norwich Union, E2V and UPC. Kingston says the company will be managed as a discrete business entity, providing a complementary strategic fit with its communications integration unit Affiniti.

The telco also announced that it had a 'satisfactory' fiscal first half-year ending 30 September, saying that its broadband subscriber base has now exceeded 139,000, up from 120,500 at the end of March. Kingston will make its full interim results announcement on 28 November.