So a totally different judging system, so to get a different result does not seem surprising.

It is carried out by software that I write.

Looks at areas like download and upload speeds, latency, dns lookup times. This creates the short list that the judging panel then select the winner from.

Those who entered and got through the testing are listed at
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4661-ispa-awards-...

There was a customer choice where consumers could vote, i.e. same as the Which category. Providers had to say they wanted to be in that category. Suprisingly called the Customer Choice Award

Zen are a good provider, but what can Zen give me that Plusnet cannot?

More uptime? No.
More GB? (100 vs 60, and I use less than 30GB in a month).
Less cost? No.

What can Zen give me that Plusnet Cannot?

No connection charge? Yes
Per Second billing? Yes
Cheaper £13.50 line rental? Yes
Daytime calls 1.5p including VAT? Yes
Evening & Weekend Calls 1p Including VAT? Yes
Good Customer Service? Yes

Judging by your answer, I assume didn't even register that I only have line & calls with them. Ideal if you don't make many outgoing calls

Interesting, thanks for that.

In reply to a post by GeorgeLloyd:

Well done PlusNet for their top award at the ISPA awards.

Thanks

Rgds,

In reply to a post by camieabz:

If costs vs product delivered are included in reviews/opinions, Zen don't come close to many other providers. Their monthly charges are ex-VAT, indicating that they aim for business contracts, rather than residential ones ....

Try the Home & Home Office page .

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

It is carried out by software that I write.

So, does that mean this is basically a TBB award? If so, it would match the heavy bias toward PN I encounter here compared with other sites.

Looks at areas like download and upload speeds, latency, dns lookup times. This creates the short list that the judging panel then select the winner from.

Ah, latency. Now that is an area in which Plusnet really excel.
http://speedtest.net/result/2040908705.png

And PN Business.

Ah, latency. Now that is an area in which Plusnet really excel.
http://speedtest.net/result/2040908705.png

I'm not sure what a single, out of context, speedtest result shows? The user could have had a fault, the latency could be on their side of the connection, the speedtest server could be struggling, it might have been after an MSO or outage when we were out of balance etc?

BTW we're also recommended by Which? Albeit not 13 times over 8 years like Zen have.

In reply to a post by professor973:

What can Zen give me that Plusnet Cannot?

No connection charge? Yes
Per Second billing? Yes
Cheaper £13.50 line rental? Yes
Daytime calls 1.5p including VAT? Yes
Evening & Weekend Calls 1p Including VAT? Yes
Good Customer Service? Yes

Judging by your answer, I assume didn't even register that I only have line & calls with them. Ideal if you don't make many outgoing calls

No connection charge when I signed up.

Not sure what "Per second billing" means.

Daytime calls - Free
Evening calls - Free
£12.99 line rental / £3.50 call plan / £0.99 call features
Good customer service? If you speak to the right people, and in the right way, yes. Some of the front line folk are way behind in techie jargon compared to the faults team.

I thought we were discussing broadband only, hence why I refered to just broadband. Like I said already, each to their own, but Zen's broadband prices do not compete with most residential broadband providers' prices.