UK Internet Service Providers Association Reveals 2012 Award Winners

The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has today announced the winners of its 14th annual 2012 internet industry awards, which saw PlusNet pickup the gong for Best Consumer Broadband ISP. Similarly MacAce won the new Best Customer Choice award and Hyperoptic walked away with the prize for Best New ISP.

The event, which took place last night at Park Lane Sheraton Hotel in London, also saw the B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) project crowned as Internet Hero for their efforts to bring community supported ultra-fast fibre optic broadband to several isolated areas of northern Lancashire.

Elsewhere the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) was named as this year’s Internet Villain for its “internet governance land-grab“, which could potentially result in a less open and free internet that would be “controlled by governments in a top-down manner“.

Nicholas Lansman, ISPA Secretary General, said:

“ISPA would like to congratulate all the winners and thank all the attendees and sponsors for making the evening possible. It’s been another important and fast-moving 12 months for the internet industry, and the Awards are a good measure of achievement and innovation in the past year.”

Winners of the 2012 ISPA Awards

Best Consumer Fixed Broadband
Plusnet

The judges were impressed by Plusnet’s flexibility, good range of services, value for money, 10 day cancellation and pre-configured routers.

Best Business Fixed Broadband
Fluidata

The judges felt that Fluidata’s service offered value for money on an entry level service, scaled up well as well as offering IPv6 and a variety of speeds and services.

Best Consumer Customer Service ISP
Catalyst 2

The judges chose Catalyst 2 for their hassle-free service and for helping guide consumers through the minefield of choosing a hosting service.

Best Business Customer Service ISP
KC Business

Judges liked KC’s range of contract options, free technical consultation and investment in start-ups and the community.

Best SME Business Hosting
Netcetera

Judges were once again impressed by Netcetera’s entry level service which features a variety of payment methods and 30 day money back guarantee.

Best Large Business Hosting
Fidonet

Fidonet’s pre-sales consultation, load balancing and description of blending in as one of their customers IT department gave them the edge.

Best Internet Telephony
iNet Telecoms (Voipfone)

The Judges felt that iNet Telecom’s (Voipfone) easy set-up and growth through recommendation alone without a sales team made them worthy winners.

Digital Inclusion
Mersey Travel

The judges decided that Mersey Travel were worthy winners for their campaign, Go On it’s Liverpool, which created a sustainable and replicable model for the UK.

Internet Safety and Security
TalkTalk, with KC Highly Commended

TalkTalk were awarded the winners prize for educating parents and giving them an active choice about content filtering.

The judges decided to commend KC for their security portfolio, annual health checks and walk-in library service.

Managed Service Innovation
Fluidata

The judges awarded the prize to Fluidata for taking the initiative to address the need for competition to ensure consumers and businesses get the choice of providers at the retail level.

Customer Choice
MacAce

Thousands of customers took part and rated their ISPs on reliability, customer service and value for money – MacAce scored highest.

Best New ISP
Hyperoptic

In its first year Hyperoptic was chosen for their personalised service in bringing fibre to the building and with it a difference in attitude to service provision.

Overall there weren’t too many surprises this year and it’s good to see new providers Hyperoptic and B4RN being recognised for their often unique efforts to deliver true fibre optic broadband broadband services into challenging environments.

For more information:
http://www.ispaawards.org.uk