The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK) has announced the finalists for the 2017 annual ISPA awards, the longest running and most prestigious Internet industry awards in the UK.
Millions of technical tests have been performed and thousands of words poured over in order to reach the fifty companies nominated across fifteen categories. The winners will be announced at the gala ceremony on the 13th July in Central London.
The ISPA Awards is proud to continue its recognition of ISPs of all shapes and sizes, and this year’s shortlist highlights the true breadth of the companies and technologies powering our economy and everyday lives. Leading the way this year with four nominations are Entanet, Talk Straight, Exa Networks and Hyperoptic, closely followed by several ISPs nominated across three categories.
As the ISP sector continues to develop and evolve, two new categories introduced this year have seen a high number of entries. The Best Rural Broadband Award features ISPs that specialise in connecting some of the hardest to reach areas using different technologies, while the Executive of the Year celebrates the leaders driving innovation and success in the industry.
As well as the broadband awards, companies are also shortlisted for other important services, including security, cloud and customer service, as well as those providing vital services to ISPs such as law firms and hardware manufacturers. The public will be asked to nominate their Internet Hero and Internet Villain in the coming weeks.
ISPA Secretary General Nick Lansman commented: "The companies shortlisted at this year’s ISPA Awards play a vital role in ensuring the UK remains a world leading digital economy. The 19th ISPAs once again demonstrates the innovation and diversity of our industry and I look forward to finding out the winners at the gala awards ceremony on July 13."
The finalists in the broadband categories have been determined by technical testing undertaken by ISPA’s independent technical testing partner, thinkbroadband. Using these results, and the written entry forms for non-technically tested categories, an independent panel of industry experts will decide the winners.
The ceremony for the 2017 Awards is taking place at the iconic Café de Paris in central London on Thursday 13th July. Tickets for the black tie ceremony, which includes entertainment, dinner and dancing until the small hours can be booked here.
The ISPA Awards would not be possible without the sponsors, and we would like to thank them for their support. Magrathea Telecom are sponsoring the Best VoIP and Radwin are sponsoring the Best Wireless award. Click here to learn about further awards sponsorship opportunities.
The 2017 ISPAs shortlists
Best Superfast Broadband
ASK4
Entanet International
Exa Networks
Hyperoptic
Venus Business Communications
Best Business Broadband
Bridge Fibre
BT Business
Hyperoptic
Luminet
M24Seven
RM Education
Venus Business Communications
Best Rural Broadband
Airband Community Internet
Gigaclear plc
Quickline Communications
SW Internet Ltd
Wessex Internet from M12 Solutions
Best Wireless
ASK4
Luminet
M12 Solutions (Wessex Internet)
M24Seven
SW Internet Ltd
Best Host
catalyst2
Exa Networks
Heart Internet
Memset
Storm Internet
Best Wholesale
Entanet International
TalkTalk Business
Venus Business Communications
Zen Internet
Best Hardware
Linksys Velop
RADWIN JET PRO
Sky Broadband
Best Tech Law Firm
Browne Jacobson LLP
Kemp Little LLP
LawBite
Preiskel & Co LLP
Best Marketing
Bowan Arrow - ShoreTel Partner Demand Program
Entanet International Ltd - Target Partner Programme
LivingCom - The Rental Requirements of Millennial Movers white paper
Plusnet
StudentCom - Generation Z
Talk Straight Ltd (Schools Broadband) - Discovery Kids
Best VoIP
Gradwell Communications
iNet Telecoms Ltd
Soho66
Telappliant Ltd
VIA
VoIPstudio
Executive of the Year
Dana Tobak, CEO, Hyperoptic
Furqan Alamgir, Founder & CEO, Connexin
Lee Perkins, CEO, M24Seven
Matthew Hare, Chief Executive and Founder, Gigaclear
Steve Hodges, Managing Director, Astro Communications Ltd
Susie Hargreaves OBE, Chief Executive, Internet Watch Foundation
Best Cloud
catalyst2
Exa Networks
Memset
Storm Internet
Talk Straight
VIA
Best Consumer Customer Service
CableCom Networking
Hyperoptic
MacAce
Plusnet
Sky
Wessex Internet from M12 Solutions
Wifinity Limited
Best Business Customer Service
catalyst2
Entanet International
Luminet
Storm Internet
Talk Straight
Telappliant
Best Security
Exa Networks
MacAce
Memset
Sky
Storm Internet
Talk Straight