The deal is the latest in a merger-filled year for the European hosting market. In previous 2004 deals, VIA.Net Works bought PSINet Europe and France’s Amen, Host Europe PLC was bought by Pipex, NetBenefit bought London-based rival Easily Ltd., and Lycos Europe bought United-Domains of Munich.

“Nothing will change for Strato customers,” Tect CEO Rochus Wegener told Heise Online. “The Strato Group, with its focus on web hosting, and freenet.de, with its strong point in DSL, complement each other splendidly.”