2023 Leading Lights Awards Finalists

Wireless

Most Innovative 5G Core Deployment

Awarded to the vendor or service provider that has launched the most innovative deployment of a 5G core in a live network with real subscribers during the past year.

• Hughes, an EchoStar Company
• Cisco Systems
• SK Telecom
• KT

Most Innovative RAN Product or Solution

Awarded to the vendor that has launched the most innovative radio access network (RAN) product or solution during the past year.

• Samsung
• Intel
• Cohere Technologies
• Juniper Networks – with Vodafone, Parallel Wireless and Aira Technologies
• Marvell
• Red Hat – with NVIDIA
• Freshwave – with The City of London
• ZTE
• Netcracker
• Jio Platforms

Outstanding Use Case: IoT

Awarded to the service provider or vendor helping change businesses and improve customer experiences with innovative Internet of Things devices and services.

• Comcast's MachineQ
• 6D Technologies
• Mavenir – with Deutsche Telekom IoT GmbH
• Singtel
• Keysight

Outstanding Use Case: Networked Edge

Awarded to the company that can articulate a compelling example of how it delivered edge computing solutions – either network or customer-facing. For network service providers, this category includes any distributed and dedicated edge solutions in collaboration with hyperscalers.

• Nokia
• Spectrum Enterprise
• SK Telecom – with BICS, Samsung Electronics and AWS
• ZTE – with Wuhan Iron and Steel Corp. (WISCO)
• World Wide Technology

Outstanding Use Case: Private Wireless Networks

Awarded to the company that can share the most compelling example of building and/or operating a private wireless network on behalf of a corporate or municipal customer.

• Celona
• China Telecom Americas
• BICS – with Airbus
• ZTE – with Wuhan Iron and Steel Corp. (WISCO)
• Boldyn Networks – with Moray East Offshore Wind Farm

Wireless Technology Vendor of the Year

Awarded to the wireless technology vendor or software provider that is a standout example of all-around excellence.

• AMD
• Extenet
• Amdocs
• Tarana Wireless

Overall Excellence

Light Reading MVPs

Awarded to the communications industry individuals, at any corporate level, who made an unmistakable difference in their company, community, culture – or all three.

• Maryam Rofougaran, CEO, Movandi
• Carl Guardino, VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Tarana Wireless
• Jezzibell Gilmore, Chief Commercial Officer, Connectbase
• Mattias Fridström, Chief Evangelist, Arelion
• Dr. Loi Nguyen, EVP, Optical and Copper Connectivity Group, Marvell
• Mike Finley, CEO, Boingo
• Jack Raynor, Co-chair, Telecom Infra Project (TIP) OpenWiFi

Company of the Year (Private)

Awarded to the privately held firm that stands out from its competitors, innovates constantly, makes investors proud and makes employees happy.

• Celona
• Zayo Group
• MATRIXX Software
• IP Infusion
• Cohere Technologies
• Federated Wireless
• Tarana Wireless
• World Wide Technology
• Arrcus
• ATX Networks

Company of the Year (Public)

Awarded to the publicly listed firm that stands out from its competitors, innovates constantly, makes investors proud and makes employees happy.

• RADCOM
• Amdocs
• Tejas Networks
• Keysight
• SiTime
• Vecima Networks
• Fortinet

Outstanding Use Case: Customer Experience

Awarded to the company that used its communications technology or network to deliver a superior experience to business, consumer or government customers.

• 6D Technologies
• Optiva
• Mirada
• Lifecycle Software
• JMA Wireless
• Whale Cloud – with DITO Telecommunity
• Sandvine
• Freshwave – with Three UK

Best Public-Private Partnership

Awarded to the organizations working together to expand broadband access and other technology services to help narrow the digital divide for municipalities and community institutions, including school districts, nonprofits and other public sector organizations.

• Consolidated Communications and the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA)
• Cradlepoint and The City of Peachtree Corners, Georgia
• Cradlepoint and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
• Telecom Infra Project (TIP) OpenWiFi – with Dublin City Council, ThinkWiFi, and Mawingu

Digital Equity All-Stars

Service provider, vendor or technology company working to broaden access/reduce barriers to connectivity, devices and services for hard-to-reach and otherwise marginalized communities. We're looking for any effort (one-off, recently started or ongoing) that demonstrates a drive to both increase access to connectivity and reduce barriers to affordability and/or education using digital tools and services.

• Calix
• World Wide Technology
• Ribbon
• Tarana Wireless
• Ookla
• Render Networks

Broadband

Broadband Service Provider of the Year

Awarded to the network operator or other broadband service provider that had the best year ever.

• Frontier Communications
• Ogi – with Nokia

Most Innovative Broadband Access Solution

Awarded to the company that has launched the most innovative product or service that will enable the delivery of high-speed broadband access via fixed wireless, satellite, fiber or cable.

• Infinera
• Kontron
• DZS
• Vecima Networks
• Mavenir – with Quickline Communications
• Radisys
• Calix

Outstanding Use Case: Consumer Broadband Deployment

Awarded to the company that has delivered an exceptional high-speed broadband access experience in the past year – via fixed wireless, satellite, fiber or cable.

• Render Networks
• Juniper Networks – with NEC and Tele Columbus AG
• Zyxel Communications – with DIGI Spain
• LotusFlare – with Globe Telecom

Outstanding Use Case: Home Network Intelligence

Awarded to the company that offered superior Wi-Fi management, home security, ad blocking, entertainment or other digital experience used to enhance home broadband.

• CUJO AI
• DZS – with TalkTalk Group
• Nokia
• Incognito Software Systems

Digital Transformation

Outstanding Use Case: AI/Machine Learning

Awarded to the company that is using artificial intelligence or machine learning in an innovative way to improve network performance, customer service or business operations.

• ZTE
• Plume
• Cox Communications
• EnterpriseWeb
• P.I. Works – with Turkcell
• RADCOM
• Juniper Networks
• Mavenir
• Comviva

Outstanding Use Case: Network and Service Automation

Awarded to the company that uses new technology to reduce the time it takes to set up, deploy, integrate, scale or secure network infrastructure, network services or applications. This category can include uses of SD-WAN, SASE and SSE, if relevant.

• MYCOM OSI
• Console Connect
• Amdocs – with VodafoneZiggo
• EnterpriseWeb
• TransUnion
• IBM – with BT Business
• Federated Wireless – with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
• stc (Saudi Telecom Company)

Most Innovative Cloud Product or Service

Awarded to the service provider, cloud provider or vendor that has launched the most innovative cloud-native, communications-focused product or service during the past year.

• Witbe
• Netcracker
• Mavenir
• A10 Networks
• Juniper Networks
• Rakuten Symphony
• Amdocs

Fixed Telecom and Cable Infrastructure

Most Innovative Optical Networking Product

Awarded to the optical systems vendor or optical components vendor that has provided the most innovative optical networking solution for service provider customers.

• Fujitsu Network Communications
• CommScope
• Ciena
• Marvell
• Infinera
• Nokia
• Ribbon
• Radisys

Most Innovative Routing and Switching Solution

Awarded to the vendor that has launched the most innovative hardware- or software-based routing and switching solution for network operators.

• Nokia
• Cisco
• Ciena
• Arista
• Juniper
• KYRIO
• Lumentum
• DriveNets
• Arrcus
• Varnish Software

Most Innovative Cable Network Technology

Awarded to the company that has developed innovative products or solutions that help network operators extend the life of their hybrid-fiber coaxial networks as they either compete with or transition to all-fiber networks.

• Vecima Networks
• ATX Networks
• Technetix Group Ltd
• OpenVault