UK Wireless Internet Services Providers Association Set to Close Down

The UK Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (UKWISPA), which has been the official trade body for wireless broadband ISPs, Wi-Fi hotspot providers and associated networks for the past 11 years, has announced that it is being “wound-up” and its operations transferred to an as yet unnamed “new entity“.

However, the Founder and Chairman of UKWISPA, David Burns, has previously indicated that the “international success of Wireless Coverage and WISDM” (the latter is a mapping system for wireless broadband networks) meant that he could not “commit the amount of time and energy needed to help drive forward” the UK organisation.

The Chairman had initially proposed an alternative solution, which would have seen a “refreshed team” take UKWISPA forward and delivered “closer collaboration” with the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA). But David added that “certain members” recently “rejected” that proposal and have subsequently proposed to “create a new organisation to replace UKWISPA as we know it“, which is the idea that will now be taken forward.

In short, UKWISPA is being “wound-up” in favour of the new entity, which we currently know nothing about. The full statement can be read below.

Statement from UKWISPA’s Chairman to Members

The UK Wireless Internet Services Providers Association was formed eleven years ago, and we have had an amazing journey together! Together, we have seen the industry grow and have elevated our status as an important piece of the UK broadband landscape.

However, as outlined in October last year, and reaffirmed in our Spring Members Meeting in London, the international success of Wireless Coverage and WISDM means that I cannot commit the amount of time and energy needed to help drive forward UKWISPA.

As previously set out, I proposed an orderly transition to a refreshed team to take UKWISPA forward, which also included closer collaboration with INCA. It remains my firm belief that it is in the best interests of the FWA and wider independent broadband provider sector to actively encourage investment in more high-quality gigabit blended fibre and wireless networks. This was a key element of my proposals put to members this year, and I was committed to investing my time and money towards that goal until the Autumn Members Meeting.

However, despite the support from Members in the consultation survey in May 2026, at the last Member Consultation call on 4 th June 2026, it became clear that certain members of the UKWISPA Advisory Board rejected my proposals to evolve the current UKWISPA and have subsequently proposed to create a new organisation to replace UKWISPA as we know it.

It is therefore with a very heavy heart that I am announcing that we are accepting this proposal and The UK Wireless Internet Services Providers Association will be wound-up and we will transfer operations to the new entity. All trading and operations have therefore now ceased pending handover to the new entity.

The new organisation has a very similar mission to support the interests of the UK FWA market, and they would like to invite you to transfer your membership to them.

Due to GDPR constraints, we cannot simply give the new organisation personal contact details, but we are providing details about your organisation’s membership status and renewal dates, and we do encourage you to opt-in to membership.

Please can you send an email to [email protected] confirming that you are happy to be contacted about membership.

I’m sure that the team behind new UKWISPA will be familiar to you already and I know they will be delighted to work with you, and we wish them every success in so doing, namely; Ian Bushrod, Sharon McDermott, Tim Porter, Steve Temple, Trevor Cook, Jenny Gillwald, Oli Stockman, Hal Ponton and George Taylor.

Finally, I would like to thank you for being with me on this journey for the past eleven- years. We have seen tremendous change in the industry and we have had both happy times, and sadness where members have passed.

It has been my privilege to work with you and Dilya and I are immensely proud of the organisation we have built.

We wish you every success in the future and hope our paths cross again.

Kindest regards

David Burns

Founder – UKWISPA