ISPA has announced the finalists for its 13th annual Awards show today with 46 companies nominated across thirteen categories.

Catalyst2, C4L, Exa Networks, KC, MacAce.net, O2 UK, UKFast and Virgin Media are leading the way having been nominated in three categories each. A full list of finalists is available below.

Last year’s Best Consumer Fixed ISP winner, BE Broadband, will be defending its crown, however there will be guaranteed new winners in the Best Business Fixed ISP and Best Mobile Broadband categories.

This year two new categories, the Best Over the Top TV and Best Managed Service, were launched to represent developments in the industry.

Entrants in the broadband and hosting categories underwent two months of rigorous testing by ISPA’s technical testing partners, thinkbroadband, while Malden Electronics carried out the testing for the Internet Telephony category.

It is now down to the independent panel of ISPA Awards judges to decide on the winners which will be announced on July 7 at the Lancaster London Hotel. Tickets to the event are available and can be purchased from the awards website here.

“We received an impressive amount of entries again this year and I would like to thank everyone for entering and taking part in the testing and wish you all the best of luck for the 7th July,” Nick Lansman, ISPA Secretary General.

Magrathea, Plusnet, BE Wholesale, UKFast, Geo, Virtual Internet and NewNet are sponsoring categories at the Awards this year. For more information contact awards@ispa.org.uk.

2011 ISPA Awards Finalists

Best Consumer Fixed Broadband

BE Broadband

KC Home

O2 Home

PlusNet

Virgin Media

Best Business Fixed Broadband sponsored by BE Wholesale 

Demon

Fluidata

KC Business

NewNet Business

Timico

Urban Wimax

Best Mobile Broadband sponsored by NewNet 

Exa Networks

O2

Three

Timico

Vodafone

Best Consumer Customer Service ISP 

ask4

BE Broadband

KC

MacAce

O2

PlusNet

Best Business Customer Service ISP sponsored by Geo 

ask4

C4L

Entanet

Exa Networks

Fluidata

MacAce

Best Shared Hosting 

catalyst2

C4L

Heart Internet

Namesco

Netcetera

Nublue

Best Dedicated Hosting 

catalyst2

C4L

Eclipse Internet

Namesco

NewNet

StratoGen

UKFast

Best Internet Telephony sponsored by Magrathea 

Adepteo

Birchills Telecom

Entanet

Gradwell

Noble Solutions

Poundbury Systems Ltd

Access Innovation

Rutland Telecom

South West Internet CiC

UKFast

Virgin Media

Digital Inclusion sponsored by PlusNet and in association with RaceOnline 2012

Age UK

Bristol City Council

Finerday

GO ON Adopt a Care Home

South West Internet CIC

Three

Internet Safety and Security sponsored by Virtual Internet

Exa Networks

GFI Software with Viper security

M86 Security

RM Education

South West Grid for Learning Trust (SWGfL)

Vispa

Managed Service

catalyst2

Eclipse Internet

MacAce

Memset

UKFast

Urban Wimax

Best OTTV

IP Vision () Ltd / FetchTV

LOVEFiLM

Tvinci

Virgin Media

-ends-

Notes to the editor:

The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA) was established in 1995 as a trade association to represent providers of Internet services in the . ISPA promotes competition, self-regulation and the development of the Internet industry. For a list of members or other information about ISPA, please consult the website:

The views expressed in this release are those of the Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA) and do not necessarily reflect the corporate policies of the individual companies that are members of the Association or other organisations that may be mentioned in the release. For further editorial information please contact the ISPA Press Office (020 7340 8741).

About The ISPA Awards:

The ISPAs - the UK Internet industry awards - are unique as they are awarded to people and organisations in the industry by their peers and reflect the broad nature of the service provider sector.

The Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA ) has been organising the UK Internet Industry Awards since 1999 to herald the best of the Internet industry and to celebrate innovation and best practice. In 2002 the awards were dubbed The ISPAs.