Award Purpose

Recognizes a major technological advancement in 5G-Advanced (5G-A) that significantly enhances network capabilities, efficiency, and services. This could include innovations in air interface design, intelligent network operations, or novel hardware/software integrations that extend the potential of 5G.

Key Focus Areas

· Breakthroughs in 5G-A architecture or protocols

· Advancements in massive MIMO, beamforming, or spectrum utilization

· Integration of AI/ML for self-optimizing networks

· Step-change in throughput, latency, or energy efficiency

Submission Proof Points

· Detailed technical whitepaper or architecture diagram outlining the breakthrough

· Performance benchmarks showing improvements in throughput, latency, or efficiency

· Trial or pilot deployment reports, including real-world test data

· Patents, standards contributions, or published research supporting the innovation

· Customer/operator testimonials or case studies (if applicable)

· Roadmap or plan for scalability and commercial deployment

Judging Criteria

· Level of technical innovation

· Performance impact on the network or end-user services

· Scalability and future-readiness

· Validation through trials, pilots, or deployments

Award Purpose

Highlights projects that have delivered measurable improvements in network efficiency, including O&M efficiency, service provisioning efficiency, and energy efficiency, infrastructure utilization, and operational overhead.

Key Focus Areas

· AI-driven or automated operations

· Green/energy-efficient networks

· Cloud-native resource orchestration

· Lean architecture or infrastructure sharing

Submission Proof Points

· Before-and-after efficiency metrics (e.g., % reduction in power, CAPEX/OPEX savings)

· AI/automation use case documentation (e.g., RAN optimization logs, orchestration platforms)

· Carbon reduction data or sustainability reports

· Case studies or implementation timelines

· Screenshots or visualizations of network dashboards/analytics

· Proof of rollout across multiple regions or network segments

Judging Criteria

· Quantifiable improvements in efficiency (e.g., cost, energy)

· Innovation in optimization methods

· Sustainability and long-term benefits

· Applicability across other networks or regions

Award Purpose

Recognizes excellence in the planning, design, and deployment of a Standalone (SA) 5G core network that enables next-generation services.

Key Focus Areas

· Cloud-native and service-based architecture (SBA)

· Use of containerization and microservices

· Deployment of network slicing or MEC

· End-to-end orchestration and automation

Submission Proof Points

· Network design architecture and core integration overview

· Project timeline, milestones, and scope of deployment (e.g., number of sites, regions)

· Evidence of 5G SA services enabled (e.g., VoNR, MEC, private 5G)

· Cloud-native deployment stack and orchestration tools used

· KPIs: latency, user throughput, reliability, service availability

· Deployment partners or ecosystem collaboration examples

Judging Criteria

· Scope and complexity of deployment

· Implementation speed and agility

· Service enablement (e.g., VoNR, low-latency apps)

Award Purpose

Celebrates innovation in core network solutions designed for 5G-Advanced use cases. Emphasis is placed on flexibility, intelligence, and service agility within the core.

Key Focus Areas

· Programmable, AI-driven core capabilities

· Converged core across access types (5G/4G/Wi-Fi)

· Support for URLLC, RedCap, or massive IoT

· Integration with edge computing and network exposure APIs

Submission Proof Points

· Description of the solution, highlighting architecture and features

· Technical documentation or product brochures

· Evidence of 5G-A capabilities: support for slicing, RedCap, URLLC, etc.

· Demonstrated deployment with operator(s) or enterprise customers

· Compliance certifications or standards alignment (e.g., 3GPP, ETSI)

· Video demos, UI screenshots, or operational logs

Judging Criteria

· Uniqueness and innovation of the solution

· Enablement of new services or business models

· Interoperability and standards compliance

· Deployment maturity and commercial viability

Award Purpose

Recognizes the most impactful and innovative strategies to commercialize 5G, expand market reach, and deliver new value to consumers or enterprises.

Key Focus Areas

· Strategic partnerships and ecosystem building

· Vertical market solutions (e.g., manufacturing, healthcare, logistics)

· B2B or B2B2X go-to-market models

· Monetization of advanced services (e.g., slicing, private networks)

Submission Proof Points

· Strategic planning document or go-to-market plan summary

· Business KPIs: new revenue streams, user base growth, ARPU uplift

· Use cases or vertical-specific examples with partners or clients

· Marketing and partner ecosystem initiatives

· Customer feedback or usage stats from deployed services

· Timeline and scalability plan for expansion

Judging Criteria

· Business impact: revenue, growth, market share

· Creativity and innovation in business approach

· Customer adoption and satisfaction

· Scalability and repeatability of the strategy

Award Purpose

Rewards the most forward-thinking, user-centric 5G service or application that demonstrates new business models, capabilities, or experiences.

Key Focus Areas

· New consumer or enterprise 5G services

· Enhanced media, XR/VR/AR, gaming, or immersive applications

· Integration with AI, IoT, or real-time analytics

· Differentiated QoS or ultra-low-latency offerings

Submission Proof Points

· Description of the service and user value proposition

· Technical overview: how 5G capabilities enable the innovation

· Product/service demo, screenshots, or video walkthroughs

· Commercial performance metrics (e.g., adoption rate, revenue, engagement)

· Feedback from end users or enterprises (surveys, testimonials)

· Differentiation vs. existing services or competitors

Judging Criteri

· Uniqueness and market differentiation

· User experience and customer engagement

· Business/commercial performance

· Scalability and technical feasibility

Award Purpose

Recognizes outstanding implementation of cloud-native principles in telecom networks, enabling agility, efficiency, and new service models.

Key Focus Areas

· End-to-end cloud-native network deployment

· CI/CD, DevOps, and automation in operations

· Edge cloud strategy and implementation

· Vendor-agnostic orchestration and openness

Submission Proof Points

· Architecture overview of the cloud-native infrastructure (e.g., CNFs, containers)

· CI/CD pipeline diagrams or DevOps process documentation

· Edge deployment use cases or diagrams

· Vendor-agnostic orchestration examples (e.g., Open RAN, open APIs)

· Uptime, resource utilization, or provisioning speed metrics

· Case study or project execution timeline

Judging Criteria

· Cloud maturity and scale of adoption

· Agility, resilience, and operational efficiency gains

· Innovation in cloud-native architecture

· Strategic impact on network evolution

Award Purpose

Celebrates solutions that enhance 5G network reliability, availability, and fault tolerance to ensure superior user experience and critical service uptime.

Key Focus Areas

· Self-healing and fault management systems

· Redundancy and high-availability design

· Real-time monitoring and predictive analytics

· SLA-guaranteed service delivery

Submission Proof Points

· Reliability strategy overview and high-availability architecture

· SLA metrics before and after implementation

· Automated recovery or self-healing workflow documentation

· Predictive analytics models or AI training data

· Incident reduction statistics (e.g., fault frequency, MTTR improvements)

· Operational logs or monitoring dashboard visuals

· Cross-environment deployment examples or scaling cases

Judging Criteria

· Improvement in uptime and fault metrics

· Use of AI/ML or automation for reliability

· Impact on service quality and customer trust

· Replicability across network environments