The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK) has today announced the finalists for its 14th annual awards. More than 40 companies have been nominated across 12 categories with results announced on 3 July.

Last year’s winners of the Best Consumer and Best Business Fixed Broadband ISP, BE Broadband and Fluidata, will both be defending their titles in their respective categories. Plusnet leads the way with five nominations. A full list of finalists is available below.

To make the awards even more comprehensive this year saw the addition of the Customer Choice Award, voted for by customers of ISPs, with thousands of votes cast. Best New ISP also makes its category debut this year to recognise the continued innovation of the internet 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 3 at the Park Lane Sheraton Hotel. Tickets to the event are available and can be purchased from the awards website here.

“Congratulations to all the finalists of the 14th annual awards and the best of luck for the night. Nomination is the culmination of either rigorous technical testing, written entry forms analysed by experts judges or votes from customers”, said ISPA Secretary General, Nicholas Lansman.

“This year’s new categories once again demonstrate the innovation of our industry and with thousands of votes cast by members of public adds a new dimension to the event”, he added.

Magrathea, O2 Wholesale, CISAS, Geo Networks and Return Path are sponsoring categories at the Awards this year. For more information contact awards@ispa.org.uk.

2012 ISPA Awards Finalists

Best Consumer Fixed Broadband
BE Broadband
Hyperoptic Home
KC Home
Plusnet Consumer
Virgin Media 100 Mbps

Best Business Fixed Broadband sponsored by O2 Wholesale
Fastnet Business Resilient
FidoNet Biz Max
Fluidata Burst
Plusnet Business
Spectrum Business
Urban WiMAX

Best Consumer Customer Service ISP sponsored by CISAS
BE Broadband
catalyst2 services
KC
MacAce
Plusnet

Best Business Customer Service ISP sponsored by Geo Networks
Entanet International
Exa Networks
Fluidata
KC Business
Plusnet
Urban Wimax

Best SME Business Hosting
Eclipse Internet
Netcetera
Netplan Internet Solutions
StratoGen
Virtual Internet
Xifos

Best Large Business Hosting
FastNet
Fidonet
Fluidata
Netcetera
Netplan Internet Solutions
StratoGen

Best Internet Telephony sponsored by Magrathea
Adepteo
Gradwell
iNet Telecoms (Voipfone)
KC Business
Orbis Telecom
Telappliant

Digital Inclusion in association with RaceOnline 2012
Digital Activist Inclusion Network
LS14 Trust
Mecca Bingo
Merseytravel
Our Yesterday
UK Online Centres

Internet Safety and Security sponsored by Return Path
ClaranetSOHO
Exa Networks
GFI Software
KC
South West Grid for Learning
TalkTalk

Managed Service Innovation
Exa Networks
Fluidata
MacAce
Memset
Timico
Virtual Internet

Customer Choice
BE Broadband
MacAce
O2
Plusnet
Zen Internet

Best New ISP
Boundless Communications
Hyperoptic
Spectrum Internet
Wirehive
-ends-

Notes to the editor:

The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK) is the UK’s Trade Association for providers of Internet services.

ISPA brings together the UK internet industry to provide essential support through innovation, knowledge and experience in order to benefit the UK economy and society. Promoting collaboration and constructive dialogue between its members and the wider internet community, ISPA is an all-important driving force for the industry and relevant stakeholders. For a list of members or other information about ISPA, please consult the website: www.ispa.org.uk.

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 3397 3308).

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 UK) 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.