The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has today revealed the shortlist of finalists for this year’s 23rd annual industry awards, which sees a number of broadband ISPs receiving nominations across several categories (e.g. Exa Networks scored five nominations, while Hyperoptic and Glide both received four nominations each.
The winners of last year’s 2020 awards were unveiled online back in November 2020 (here), which among other categories saw CommunityFibre scoop the win for “Best Consumer ISP“, while Jurassic Fibre secured “Best New ISP” and Gigaclear won “Best Rural ISP.”
By comparison, this year’s winners will, hopefully, be announced on 4th November 2021 at a gala awards ceremony in central London, which is due to take place at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane hotel. But we should point out that this could change, as it remains subject to government guidance on large events.
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This year’s event will also add a new category – “Best Ultrafast ISP,” which will be open to provider’s whose customer base include a “majority of ultrafast speeds and products to show real world testing average over 100 Mbps.”
ISPA’s Secretary General, Nick Lansman, 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. In a year where we have been in and out of lockdowns, ISPs stepped up their efforts to provide vital services and technological advances to keep the UK’s digital economy pumping, driving innovation and the rollout and delivery of key infrastructure. We are all looking forward to an exciting evening which celebrates the best that the UK industry has to offer.”
We note that the list below makes no mention of the “Internet Hero” category, but we understand that the shortlist for that will be unveiled closer to the ceremony, and once again they will be crowdsourcing suggestions from the public in the coming months.
2021 ISPAs Award Shortlist
Best Rural ISP
B4RN
Cerberus Networks
County Broadband
Trooli
TruespeedBest Consumer ISP
CommunityFibre
Glide
Hyperoptic
Jurassic Fibre
Wifinity
ZzoommBest Business ISP
Ceberus Networks
Glide
Hyperoptic
Jurassic Fibre
RM EducationBest Ultrafast ISP
Cerberus Networks
Community Fibre
Swish Fibre
Trooli
TruespeedBest VoIP
Dial 9 Communications
Enreach UK
SureVoIP
Voipfone
WebMateBest Infrastructure Provider
CityFibre
Full Fibre Limited
Glide
ITS Technology Group
KCOMBest Cyber Security
Exa Networks
Plume
RM Education
TalkStraight
TelappliantBest Customer Service
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Exa Networks
Glide
Hyperoptic
RM Education
Sky (Sky Broadband)Best Hosted Service
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Exa Networks
Krystal Hosting
Storm Internet
WebMateSocial Impact Award
CommunityFibre – Free fibre broadband connectivity to isolated households in LondonExa Networks – Exa Foundation to help teachers and students of all ages
Full Fibre – Developing a full fibre network for areas forgotten by previous developments
Hyperoptic – The Hyperoptic Digital Connectivity Social Value Calculator
KCOM – Supporting their local communities with a range of initiatives during pandemic
Talk Straight – Innovative networking solution on Otley’s Garnett Wharfe estate
Best Partnership
Exa Networks – for Bradford Champions Group / Bradford Community ChampionsGlide – and Ruckus Network technologies for revolutionising smart connectivity in the UK
Jurassic Fibre – and Burrington Estates providing full fibre connectivity to unique Winslade Park redevelopment
Netgem – for Community Fibre branded TV services powered by Netgem
Plume – for WightFibre’s Whole Home Wi-Fi, Powered by Plume HomePass
Best Customer Solution
Antheus Telecom – Antheus Artificial Intelligence Integration system for contact centresBDR Group – Medway Community Healthcare projects
Netgem – TV and Wholehome WiFi all in one
Swish Fibre – Connecting schools to their network extension, free of charge
Talk Straight – A unique web filtering solution for vulnerable children providing appropriate online safety
All the above ISP’s should win special awards of recognition for having to deal with Openreach.