EarthLink, Covad buy DSL subscriber list

EarthLink, a major Internet service provider, and Covad Communications, a DSL (digital subscriber line) wholesaler, have agreed to purchase separate portions of the broadband customer base of FirstWorld Internet Services. Terms of the sales by FirstWorld parent company Verado Holdings were not disclosed. Verado is exiting many of its phone and Internet business units.

Several surviving DSL companies have purchased the subscriber lists of failed competitors in an effort to convert those customers and quickly grow. The migration to EarthLink and Covad is expected to be complete by the end of August. EarthLink previously purchased Verado's dial-up customer list.