Brightest names in innovative alternative networks to be honoured at London event
London, UK, October 10, 2018: The Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA) has published the 16 companies that have been successfully shortlisted for its inaugural awards ceremony.
The INCA Awards have been launched to celebrate the UK’s most innovative and inspirational alternative network providers (altnets) currently operating in the UK. Eight INCAs will be presented in total, with multiple entries received over seven categories during the last few weeks.
“We were overwhelmed by the response we received to these awards and by the quality of entries – the judges certainly had a tough job,” said Malcolm Corbett, CEO at INCA. “However, there were a handful of entries that really stood out, both for their innovation and the results achieved. We look forward to recognising the whole altnet industry at the awards ceremony which marks the start of a new era where altnets start to receive the celebration they deserve. It is an honour for us to be able to commend those making such important and innovative progress in building the UK’s digital infrastructure.”
The winners in each of the seven categories – selected by an independent panel of judges – will be announced at the INCA Awards Dinner, Amba Hotel Marble Arch, London, on Monday, November 5th.
The INCA Awards categories include: Technical Innovation, Commercial Innovation, Urban Impact, Rural Impact, Best Community Project, Best Public Sector Project and Outstanding Contribution to the sector.
Shortlisted companies across the categories include: Wightfibre, Hyperoptic, iWireless, KCOM, Blu Wireless Technology, Broadway Partners, Gigaclear, Lothian Broadband, Balquhidder Community Broadband, B4SH – Broadband for the Surrey Hills, Tameside MBC, Fastershire – Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, City of London Corporation & London Law Society, Airband Community Internet, ITS Technology Group and EMTELLE.
An additional special award will be presented at the INCA Awards Dinner to recognise an “Outstanding Individual Contribution” to the altnet sector. Each winner will be selected by a panel of independent telecoms specialists and will be presented with an exclusive INCA trophy.
The INCA Awards will take place for the first time as part of INCA’s Annual Conference, to be held in London on Monday, November 5th and Tuesday, November 6th. The conference will feature keynotes, panel discussions and parallel workshops, with highlights including presentations by leading industry representatives. Among those speaking will be James Heath, author of the FTIR and Telecoms Director at the Government’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Department; Erzsébet Fitori, FTTH Council Europe, Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach; Raj Kalia of BDUK and Dana Tobak of Hyperoptic, along with other leading figures from the sector.
The INCA Awards are sponsored by ITS Technology Group, Blu Wireless Technology, Tratos and Obelisk.
For more information about the INCA Awards Dinner and to book a table, please see: https://www.inca.coop/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=103
For more information about the INCA Conference, please see: https://www.inca.coop/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=99