ISPA Announce Finalists for 2020 UK ISP Internet Industry Awards

The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has today announced a shortlist of finalists for this year’s 22nd annual industry awards, which has seen broadband ISPs being nominated for awards across various different categories and the 2020 event will include a few new additions to those.

As a quick recap, last year’s event saw KCOM scoop the win for “Best Consumer ISP” and alternative full fibre provider TrueSpeed secure “Best Rural Broadband” (here). Sadly the “Internet Villain” award was dropped at the 11th hour following an outcry over the ISPAs’ decision to short-list Mozilla for its DNS over HTTPS (DoH) stance.

The 2020 event has added three new categories into the mix: “Best New ISP” (for ISPs that started offering services after December 2017), the “Social Impact Award” (for the company that has used the internet to deliver a positive social impact) and one for “Outstanding Individual Contribution” (replaces the Executive of the Year, the category is now open to all who have changed the industry for the better).

Meanwhile the winner for the new “Outstanding Individual Contribution” category will be announced on the night and, sadly, the ISPA has taken the decision to drop the “Internet Villain” category after last year’s trouble, which is a little odd since it’s still mentioned on their website and was confirmed at the end of 2019.

Andrew Glover, ISPA Chair, said:

“This year’s shortlisted ISPA Awards finalists demonstrate the high calibre and diversity of ISPs across the UK, who continue to drive growth and innovation across the internet industry. With broadband playing such an important role in keeping people connected during the crisis, and with a key part to play in the UK’s recovery, are all looking forward towards an exciting evening which showcases the very best that the UK industry has to offer.”

The original plan was to unveil the winners at a gala ceremony and dinner at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane hotel in London on 2nd July 2020, although due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis the ISPA has wisely pushed this back to 18th November 2020. Likewise the location will now be “determined by Government advice, either in person in London or via video stream.”

2020 ISPAs Award Shortlist

Best Business ISP
Exa Networks
FluidOne
Glide
Hyperoptic
M247
RM Education

Best Hosted Provider
20i
catalyst2
Exa Networks
Storm Internet

Best Consumer ISP
CommunityFibre
Glide
Hyperoptic
KCOM
Zzoomm

Best Rural ISP
County Broadband
Gigaclear
Technological Services
TrueSpeed
Wessex Internet

Best Customer Solution
BT
M12 Solutions
M247
Storm Internet
Talk Straight
Voneus

Best New ISP
Giganet
Jurassic Fibre
Technological Services
Zzoomm

Best Partnership
Exa Networks
Full Fibre
Glide
London Grid for Learning
Netgem TV

Best Infrastructure
CityFibre
Glide
Grain Connect
KCOM
Openreach

Social Impact Award
CommunityFibre
Exa Networks
IWF
PCCW Global
Wifinity

Best Cyber Security
London Grid for Learning
RM Education
SaltDNA
Talk Straight
Whalebone

Best VoIP
Exa Networks
Gamma
Network Telecom
SureVoIP
TalkTalk
Voipfone

Best Customer Service
catalyst2
CityFibre
Hyperoptic
PCCW Global
RM Education
Wifinity