ISPA UK Begin Hunting for the Best Broadband ISPs of 2022

The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has just started their annual hunt for the best ISPs and internet companies as part of preparation for their forthcoming 2022 awards event, which has this year refreshed its various categories to reflect the rapidly changing market via 7 new or revised awards.

The winners of the previous 2021 awards event were unveiled back in November 2021 (here), which among other things saw B4RN walk away with the award for “Best Rural ISP“, while CommunityFibre scooped both the “Best Consumer ISP” and “Best Ultrafast ISP” awards. Meanwhile, Helen Milner (OBE) of the Good Things Foundation was named “Internet Hero” for the group’s efforts to tackle digital inclusion.

However, this year will see the return of the sometimes tedious “Internet Villain” category, while many of the other award categories have been revised to reflect the changing market. For example, to reflect the new ISPs and infrastructure providers that have entered the market in recent years, both the Consumer and Infrastructure Awards are being split into two. Different awards will thus be given to ISPs or infrastructure operators with more than 100,000 customers or premises passed, or fewer than 100,000 customers or premises passed.

The ISPA has also added the “Best Customer Innovation Award” category, as well as an “Outstanding Achievement Award” and a “Digital Inclusion Award” – the latter being partnered with the Good Things Foundation to reflect and showcase the need to tackle digital exclusion.

Registration is now underway across 13 categories, and the deadline for registration is the 28th April – the deadline for written entries is the 3rd July 2022. The Awards’ event itself will take place on the 24th November 2022 at the Landmark Hotel in London.

The 2022 ISPA Award Categories
Best Rural ISP
Best Business ISP
Best Consumer ISP – more than 100k customers – NEW
Best Consumer ISP – fewer than 100k customers – NEW
Best Infrastructure – more than 100k premised passed – NEW
Best Infrastructure – fewer than 100k premises passed – NEW
Best Customer Innovation – NEW
Best Hosted Service
Best Cyber Security
Best VoIP
Outstanding Achievement Award – NEW
Digital Inclusion Award – NEW
Internet Villain
Internet Hero