Coordination, Collaboration, Education and Inclusion
ISPA welcomed members, industry leaders and policymakers to our Parliamentary Dinner hosted by Kevin Hollinrake MP on the 2nd May to discuss the pressing issue of removing barriers to broadband rollout. Key takeaways from this wide-ranging and lively discussion included a need for closer coordination and collaboration, education and inclusion of different broadband technologies to achieve total coverage.
We are encouraged by the consensus for the UK to remain a key player in an increasingly competitive global digital market, and look forward to achieving this through collaboration on issues as we seek to remove barriers to broadband rollout for the benefit of consumers and businesses across the UK.
ISPA Awards Finalists Announced
Following extensive technical tests and judging by a panel of industry experts, the 2018 ISPA Awards finalists have been announced! Three new categories have been added as part of the 20th Awards, including the 20th Anniversary Award, Best Project or Partnership Award and Best ISP PR Campaign. The ISPAs will be held at The Midland Hotel on the 12th July. More information about the awards and the full list of finalists can be found below.
Best Superfast Broadband
Ask4
CableCom Networking
Community Fibre
Hyperoptic
Sky
Virgin Media
Best Business Broadband
Exa Networks
Hyperoptic
Luminet
M24Seven
Virgin Media Business
WarwickNet
Best Rural Broadband
Airband
Beeline Broadband
Gigaclear
Oakford Internet Services
TrueSpeed Communications
Voneus
Best Customer Service
CableCom Networking
Daisy
Hyperoptic
Memset
Wifinity
Zen Internet
Best Wholesale ISP
Entanet International
Gamma
Zen Internet
Best Host
catalyst2
Heart Internet
Krystal Hosting
MacAce
Memset
Storm Internet
Best ISP PR Campaign
Airband - Rural PR campaign
Ask4 - Connected Living Report
catalyst2 – AMEX campaign
EE - 4G Antenna
Hyperoptic – ‘UK first’ demonstration
Post Office - ‘Optimise & Improve’ PR & Comms campaign
Executive of the year
Jeremy Chelot - Community Fibre
Matthew Hare - Gigaclear
Gary Hall - MacAce
Tracey Wright - Magrathea
Oliver Bryssau - Origin Broadband
Best Security
catalyst2
F-Secure
Memset
NETSCOUT Arbor
Storm Internet
Talk Straight
Best VoIP
aql
Gamma
Gradwell Communications
Soho66
Telappliant
Voipfone
Best Project or Partnership
Community Fibre
Exa Networks
Nominet
UK Safer Internet Centre
Voneus
Wifinity
20th Anniversary Award
Entanet International
Gradwell Communications
Internet Watch Foundation
RM Education
Zen Internet
ISPA Awards Tickets
The winners of the 20th anniversary ISPAs will be announced at the gala on 12th July. The venue is magnificent The Midland hotel in Manchester and the evening includes an extended networking reception, a three-course meal with wine, entertainment from top comedian Justin Moorhouse, award ceremony and live band Kudos at the end of proceedings.
ISPAs are the industry event of the year, with 300 industry experts in attendance so don’t miss out and book your tickets today.
Sponsorship opportunities
ISPA Awards are kindly sponsored by:
A perfect way to promote your company is to become sponsor of ISPA Awards. We can tailor make your package. Whether you wish to sponsor the whole event or just a single category, we are happy to make the package fit your needs and give you the best exposure. Call us on 020 3397 3304 or email awards@ispa.org.uk for more details.
Public nominations sought for ISPA Internet Hero Award
ISPA has called on the public to nominate their Internet Hero for 2018, following the success of this long-running category. The internet hero can be an individual or organisation that has gone above and beyond to help the internet industry, made a real difference to the online world or revolutionised the way we use the internet. Nominations are needed by the 31st May and can be submitted by emailing admin@ispa.org.uk or simply tweeting @ISPAUK with the hashtag #InternetHero.
Intermediary Liability Subgroup Meeting
ISPA met with DCMS to discuss intermediary liability, with representatives from digital and tech and security and online harms units in attendance. Following the meeting ISPA will be setting out to DCMS in due course our position on the issue and will further outline case studies of smaller ISP's. We look forward to future meeting to address this issue.
Internet Safety Strategy Published
The Government published their response to the Internet Safety Strategy on the 20th May, alongside a draft social media code of practice. The response is focused on social media platforms and sets out the Government’s intentions in terms of tackling ‘unacceptable behaviour and content online’. As expressed in ISPA’s response to the Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper, industry actors from across the internet value chain have already taken significant steps to ensure the safety of users; however, we recognise that there is more that can be done to protect children online and to provide support to parents and carers. The strategy also suggests that further action might be taken to reform the liability of online companies and we will continue to liaise with Government ahead of the publication of a White Paper later this year.
Consumer Green Paper Published
ISPA welcomed the publication of the Government's long-awaited Consumer Green Paper, found here. UK Consumers currently benefit from a competitive and dynamic broadband market, enabling consumers to choose the right service that meets their needs. As an evolving area we stress the need for evidence-based policymaking in this area, whilst being mindful of the barriers to the rollout of broadband and infrastructure services. Find our full response to the Green Paper published here.
Global Cyber Alliance
We all know Cyber crime and on-line fraud is escalating. You will recall at the ISPA-UK annual meeting in the BT Tower on November 1 2017 that Dr. Ian levy of NCSC suggested that ISP’s adopt DNS filtering and DMARC (email authentication) to help combat the major causes of cyber crime. The Global Cyber Alliance has developed two solutions to help ISP’s achieve this goal.
The first is Quad9. Developed in collaboration with Packet Clearing House and IBM, Quad9 is a security and privacy driven DNS service based at 9.9.9.9. The service is provided free of charge allowing ISP’s or your customers to connect your DNS to Quad9 and receive protection from millions of known bad and malicious websites.
GCA has also developed a DMARC wizard which allows businesses and ISP’s to easily configure and implement the DMARC protocol for greater email protection. Details for both of these services are available at www.globalcyberalliance.org
GCA is a not for profit aimed at taking collective action to reduce and eradicate cyber risks. Learn more about GCA at www.globalcyberalliance.org
ISPA Membership Benefit: Ombudsman Service
Did you know that ISPA members are entitled to free membership of the Ombudsman Service? The Ombudsman Service is an Ofcom-approved Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme and members can be added by request. To find out more about membership of ISPA and associated benefits, contact us at admin@ispa.org.uk
A Number of Companies joined ISPA
This month we welcomed a plethora of new companies to ISPA folder. They present a range of companies across the UK wide tech sector.
Airefibre - We are Welsh based ISP offering high speed connectivity using wireless and fixed line connections. We specialise in providing high speed voice and data services to business and consumers who cannot get reached by conventional fibre or who want service from a local supplier
Cambridge Fibre - is a full-fibre service provider. We supply both leased lines and gigabit broadband services over our own fibre-optic network.
Pine Media - builds and provides service over our own optical (FTTP) network across Sheffield, Manchester & Leeds. Our Fixed Wireless Network Extends This Coverage Further To Surrounding Areas.
Wildcard Networks - based in Newcastle upon Tyne, focus on the delivery of internet access and services. As well as delivering services using traditional means, Wildcard specialises in alternative access methods such as wireless and our own fibre infrastructure. Wildcard has recently been awarded Code Powers to further our roll-out of fibre services to areas currently underserved.
Wessex Internet(WI) - is an award winning rural Fibre and Wireless ISP operating in the South West. Currently the network is in Dorset, south Wiltshire, Somerset and Hampshire. The network includes the provision of high-speed broadband and voice services to business and residential users. Wessex Internet supports over 2000 customers with 2500+ devices, 110 masts and has laid over 350kms of private fibre - and is growing fast.
Partner Events
ISPA is partnering with Connected Britain 2018 which is taking place on 19th and 20th June in London. ISPA members can claim 20% discount on their tickets. You can find out more here.
ISPA in the News
ISPA Awards shortlist was picked up by ispreview, Cambridge network, thinkbroadband and Worcester news. We also gave interview to Computer Weekly, commenting on Investigatory Powers Act.