Following on the heels of its planned merger with Telewest to create a U.K. cable powerhouse, NTL confirmed it is in discussions to acquire Virgin Mobile. The move would enable the U.K.'s top broadband provider to launch a 'quadruple play' of video, voice, high-speed data and mobile services, potentially under the hip 'Virgin' brand name. NTL is offering about 1.2 billion Euros for Virgin Mobile, a U.K. mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that delivers service using T-Mobile's wireless infrastructure. This would be NTL's second Virgin acquisition, as a year ago, the cable company acquired ISP Virgin.net and its 600,000 subscribers. Once the NTL-Telewest deal closes, which is expected in the first quarter of 2006, the combined company's footprint will cover half of all homes in the U.K and serve 5 million subscribers buying 10 million revenue generating units. Its quad-play maneuver is intended to fend off a broadband push by rival BSkyB. The satellite TV player inked a deal in October to acquire broadband ISP Easynet Group, enabling BSkyB to deliver a triple-play of high-speed data, digital TV and residential telephone services.