Windstream, Level 3, Verizon and a number of other companies with channel ties are the winners of Excellence in Best Practices Awards handed out by business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

Windstream took home the prize for 2013 North American VoIP Access and SIP Trunking Services Growth Excellence Leadership. The enterprise service provider got the nod based on its ability to leverage competitive intelligence and execute competitive strategy, as well as its impact on market share, competitive brand positioning, and customer satisfaction and value.

Frost & Sullivan recognized Level 3 Communications with the 2013 North American Wholesale Wavelength Services market share leadership award. The Colorado-based provider also was recnogized for its leadership in VoIP access and SIP trunking services strategy.

Verizon took home the market-share leadership award in the managed-security services category.

The Excellence in Best Practices Awards are presented each year to companies that are predicted to encourage significant growth in their industries, have identified emerging trends before they became the standard in the marketplace, and have created advanced technologies that will catalyze and transform industries in the near future. The awards were handed out in a ceremony in New Orleans on Jan. 14.

Thinking Phone Networks, MetraTech and NEC were also among the winners. Click here for the full list of honorees.

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