INCA Name 16 Finalists for 2018 AltNet Broadband ISP Awards

The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) has today announced a shortlist of 16 finalists for their forthcoming inaugural awards event (The INCAs), which aims to recognise and celebrate the best broadband alternative network providers (altnets) from across the United Kingdom.

Seven award categories have been created in order to support the new event, including ones for Technical Innovation, Commercial Innovation, Urban Impact, Rural Impact, Best Community Project, Best Public Sector Impact and Outstanding Contribution (details here). On top of that a special award will be presented at the INCA Awards Dinner to recognise an “Outstanding Individual Contribution” to the altnet sector.

The winners in each of the seven categories will ultimately be selected by an independent panel of judges (apparently these are all telecoms specialists but we couldn’t find a list), although it doesn’t sound like any technical testing will be conducted to help support their conclusions. The results will then be announced at the INCA Awards Dinner (Amba Hotel Marble Arch, London) on Monday, 5th November 2018.

Malcolm Corbett, CEO at INCA, said:

“We were overwhelmed by the response we received to these awards and by the quality of entries – the judges certainly had a tough job. However, there were a handful of entries that really stood out, both for their innovation and the results achieved.

We look forward to recognising the whole altnet industry at the awards ceremony which marks the start of a new era where altnets start to receive the celebration they deserve. It is an honour for us to be able to commend those making such important and innovative progress in building the UK’s digital infrastructure.”

The shortlist itself hasn’t yet been sorted into different categories, but regardless of that we wish them all the best of luck.

INCA’s 16 Award Finalists

Wightfibre
Hyperoptic
iWireless
KCOM
Blu Wireless Technology
Broadway Partners
Gigaclear
Lothian Broadband
Balquhidder Community Broadband
B4SH – Broadband for the Surrey Hills
Tameside MBC
Fastershire – Herefordshire and Gloucestershire
City of London Corporation & London Law Society
Airband Community Internet
ITS Technology Group
EMTELLE