Vodafone has been linked to Tiscali in the latest speculation about a move into the ISP market by the mobile phone giant. In a report published in the Sunday Telegraph Vodafone is understood to be considering the possible acquisition of Tiscali in a move intended to counteract the future combined power of Orange and Wannadoo.

Orange and Wannadoo are sister companies and are considering pooling their resources to offer a free broadband service to client’s of Orange. This could revolutionise the UK broadband market and prove highly beneficial to both parties.

Tiscali are a major player in the broadband arena. They have over 1 million customers in the UK alone and would provide a solid basis for a Vodafone broadband service.

Other rivals in the mobile & broadband sector include NTL which recently bought Virgin Mobile, Carphone Warehouse who launched a combined mobile / fixed line & broadband service only weeks ago and Bulldog from Cable & Wireless.

A Tiscali spokesperson would not comment on “market rumours” and Vodafone has so far distanced itself from the report.