ISPA 2008 Winners Announced

The Internet Services Providers’ Association announced at its annual awards ceremony held on 14th March 2008 who the winners were in the different categories announced earlier this year.

The yearly awards are based on nominations by the companies themselves which are then cut down to a top five in each category founded on performance testing by Epitiro, with the ultimate decision made by a panel of industry experts.

Best Consumer ISP- Plusnet
Best Consumer Broadband- NewNet
Best Business Broadband -Datanet
Best Business ISP -Eclipse Internet
Best Wireless ISP -Vodafone
Best Consumer Email -Entanet
Best Business Email -Eclipse
Best Dial-up -Waitrose
Best Internet Telephony -Entanet
Best Shared Hosting -Namesco
Best Dedicated Hosting- UKFast
Best Streaming -Astream
Best Portal -BT Yahoo

Three additional awards where the winner is selected by the ISPA council.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) Award: Given to Richard Swetenham - Head of the eContent and Safer Internet Unit at the European Commission for his participation with the issue of Internet content since 1996, drafting the first Communication on illegal and harmful Internet content. He has been the driving force behind a variety of very successful EC Safer Internet Programmes, in particular the development of the INHOPE association of Hotlines.

The Internet Hero Award: Given to Peter Robbins OBE QPM, Chief Executive, IWF for his continued leadership of the IWF and approach to fostering extensive partnerships with the Internet industry, the government and law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal online content.

The Internet Villain Award: Went to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC for failing to take the protection of peoples’ personal data seriously and highlighting bad practice in protecting data by losing computer disks containing confidential details of 25 million child benefit recipients.