Open Call for Submissions

Closing Date:6 July 2026(17:00 GMT)

The deadline for awards submissions has passed.

Broadband Excellence Awards

Why Participate？

Entering the WBBA Awards to position your organisation among the global leaders shaping next-generation digital infrastructure and AI-enabled transformation and take advantage to:

The Broadband Excellence Awards, presented by the World Broadband Association, honour outstanding achievement and innovation across the global broadband ecosystem. These prestigious awards recognize organizations, projects, and technologies that are shaping the future of connectivity, driving digital transformation, and empowering communities through broadband and emerging technologies like AI and cloud

From cutting-edge infrastructure and smart city solutions to breakthroughs in digital inclusion and sustainable connected environments, the Broadband Excellence Awards spotlight the leaders and pioneers who are building the foundation of tomorrow’s gigabit societies.

WBBA welcomes operators, vendors, policymakers, and ecosystem partners to participate in this global recognition program—celebrating the transformative power of broadband to fuel economic development, sustainability, and digital equity worldwide.

What’s New in 2026 ？

Stronger recognition of demand and vertical‑industry transformation through the Connected Digital Life Excellence Award.
Introduction of the new Excellence in Emerging Technology & Solutions Award, recognising future-ready innovation transitioning from pilot to scale.
Introduction of the new Smart Communities & Digital Government Excellence Award, recognising municipal-level and regional cities achieving impactful digital transformation with broadband and AI-enabled services via digitalisation initiatives.

2026 Awards Details

Network Infrastructure Innovation Excellence
AI in Network Excellence
Broadband Innovation Excellence for Future Applications
Smart Gigacity Excellence
Broadband for Digital Inclusion Excellence
Intelligent Home Innovation Excellence

About the Awards

The WBBA Broadband Excellence Awards 2026 recognise organisations and leaders delivering measurable, real‑world impact through broadband connectivity, cloud platforms, and artificial intelligence. Presented by the World Broadband Association (WBBA), the Awards honour excellence across the broadband value chain from operational network infrastructure deployed today, to enterprise and public‑sector transformation, and future‑ready technologies shaping the next generation of digital ecosystems.

Who Should Apply

We welcome submissions from across the ecosystem, including:

Telecom operators and network providers
Governments and city authorities
Enterprises, Education institutions and vertical industries
Technology providers, platforms & system integration solutions providers, CDN operators, ISVs, and start-ups
Public-private partnerships and multi-stakeholder initiatives

Award Brief

The Network Infrastructure Innovation Excellence Award recognizes outstanding advancements in broadband infrastructure that demonstrate creativity, intelligence, and strategic impact. This award celebrates how operators and technology providers are redefining connectivity through innovative network architectures, deployment models, and service delivery strategies that enable smarter, more inclusive, and resilient digital societies.

Nominees should showcase leadership in applying forward-thinking approaches to overcome infrastructure challenges—whether through intelligent design, operational efficiency, new service models, or inventive partnerships. The focus is on clever innovation and tangible outcomes, not necessarily the largest deployments.

Winner(s):

Altice Labs
AnD (Autonomous Network Designer) AI Agent
China Unicom
China Unicom Broadband Network Core (BNC)
e&
UAE e& 50G PON Commercial Deployment
E-Surfing IoT Tech
Network Infrastructure Innovation Excellence
Tech Mahindra
Fast-Tracking Sustainable & Secure Broadband Network Connectivity & GTM: with our Integrated FTTx Services and Automation Framework
Turkcell
Next-Generation Super C+L Backbone: Unleashing 400G - 1.6TB Capacity with ASON Resilience

Altice Labs
AnD (Autonomous Network Designer) AI Agent
China Unicom
China Unicom Broadband Network Core (BNC)
e&
UAE e& 50G PON Commercial Deployment
E-Surfing IoT Tech
Network Infrastructure Innovation Excellence
Tech Mahindra
Fast-Tracking Sustainable & Secure Broadband Network Connectivity & GTM: with our Integrated FTTx Services and Automation Framework
Turkcell
Next-Generation Super C+L Backbone: Unleashing 400G – 1.6TB Capacity with ASON Resilience

Target Applicants:

Submission Proof Points

Applicants should provide evidence covering the following areas:

Innovative Design or Strategy: A unique network architecture, deployment model, or operational approach that departs from conventional practices.
Tangible Performance Outcomes: Clear improvements in network reliability, responsiveness, user experience, or service consistency.
Operational Ingenuity: Smart approaches to managing resources, streamlining rollout, or overcoming technical and logistical constraints.
Business & Societal Impact: How the infrastructure has enabled new services, improved digital access, or supported economic or community development.
Validation & Endorsement: Feedback from users, partners, or industry peers that highlights the success or uniqueness of the initiative.
Sustainability & Efficiency: Demonstrated alignment with green network principles, resource optimization, or environmental targets.

Submission Format:

Entries will only be accepted when submitted in the English language only.
Entries exceeding the 500-word limit will not be considered for review by the judges.
Supporting documents may be included with entry. If applicable, please submit supporting documents (up to 5 pages) in .doc, .ppt, or .pdf format. Please name the file using the format:
Company Name/Individual Name - Category Name
Only entries demonstrating industry application and innovation submitted since October 2023 will be considered.

Criteria included will consider assessment of:

A Call to Industry, Government and the Ecosystem

The Awards are global in scope and open to WBBA members and non‑members, reflecting WBBA’s role as a neutral, industry‑led association advancing broadband as a foundation for economic growth, industry solutions, and societal resilience.

In 2026, WBBA invites participation from national, regional, and municipal governments, public‑private partnerships, enterprises, campuses, utilities, vertical‑industry operators, telecom operators, and technology providers.

As broadband, cloud, and AI increasingly underpin industrial competitiveness, digital government, and public‑service delivery, the WBBA Broadband Excellence Awards provide a global platform to showcase proven deployments, replicable transformation models, and future‑ready innovation.

Award Brief

The AI in Network Excellence Award recognizes exceptional initiatives that leverage Artificial Intelligence Applications to transform network capabilities, improve performance, and support next-generation applications. This award celebrates projects by operators or vendor-operator collaborations that use AI to enable advanced use cases such as Zero-Touch Automation (ZR), Cloud-AI infrastructure integration, and low-latency applications like AR/VR, industrial IoT, and autonomous systems.

This award highlights leaders who are pushing the boundaries of broadband networking through intelligent automation, predictive insights, and AI-driven optimization—laying the foundation for more efficient, responsive, and scalable digital ecosystems.

Winner:

China Telecom
Application of ISAC and AI Technology in the Field of Smart Shipping on the Huangpu River
National University of Singapore
AI-enabled network for Valour House
stc
AI-driven optimization systems
T-Mobile
T-Mobile USA Submission - AI in Network Excellence
Turkcell
Turkcell & Huawei FTTH Network Automation Project

Submission Proof Points

Applicants should provide evidence covering the following areas:

Project Overview: Description of the AI-enabled network initiative, including objectives, scope, timeline, and stakeholders.
AI Technology Used: Explanation of the AI models, platforms, or techniques employed (e.g., machine learning for traffic management, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, etc.).
Use Case Focus: Relevance to ZR (Zero-touch automation), Cloud-AI convergence, or support for low-latency applications (AR/VR, industrial IoT, etc.).
Performance Impact: Quantitative results such as improved throughput, reduced latency, fault prediction accuracy, or automation rates.
Business or Customer Impact: Demonstrable improvements in user experience, operational efficiency, service uptime, or cost reduction.
Scalability: Ability to replicate or scale the solution across multiple geographies or service domains.
Innovation & Differentiation: Unique aspects of the project that distinguish it from standard practices.
Endorsements or Case Studies: Testimonials from partners, users, or third-party assessments validating the project impact.

Submission Format:

Entries will only be accepted when submitted in the English language only.
Entries exceeding the 500-word limit will not be considered for review by the judges.
Supporting documents may be included with entry. If applicable, please submit supporting documents (up to 5 pages) in .doc, .ppt, or .pdf format. Please name the file using the format:
Company Name/Individual Name - Category Name
Only entries demonstrating industry application and innovation submitted since October 2023 will be considered.

Criteria included will consider assessment of:

Award Categories

This year we are seeking the recipient who demonstrate exceptional excellence in the following nine (9) categories.

Network & Infrastructure Innovation Excellence– Recognising large-scale broadband and infrastructure deployments delivering proven performance, resilience, and scalability.
Broadband, Cloud & Future Applications Excellence – Celebrating high-impact broadband- and cloud-enabled applications transforming industries and public services.

AI-Driven Excellence Award – Honouring the use of AI to optimise, automate, and enhance broadband networks with measurable operational outcomes.

Connected Digital Life Excellence – Recognising enterprise and vertical use cases leveraging advanced connectivity to enhance user experience and operations.

Smart Gigacity Excellence – Showcasing cities achieving population-scale digital transformation through integrated broadband, cloud, and AI platforms.

Smart Communities & Digital Government Excellence (New) – Highlighting governments delivering efficient, citizen-centric services through broadband-enabled digital transformation.

Digital Inclusion & Sustainable Connectivity Excellence (New) – Recognising initiatives advancing affordable, inclusive, and sustainable access to digital connectivity.
Ecosystem Collaboration Excellence (New) – Celebrating multi-stakeholder partnerships driving impactful broadband and AI-enabled solutions at scale
Excellence in Emerging Technology & Solutions (New) – Highlighting innovative technologies transitioning from pilot to scalable, future-ready deployments.

Award Brief

The Broadband Innovation Excellence for Future Applications Award honours groundbreaking innovations that push the boundaries of broadband capability to enable emerging, high-demand digital experiences. Open to operators and vendors, this award focuses on transformative broadband solutions that support AI-driven services, Metaverse platforms, cloud gaming, and 3D/XR immersive applications.

This category recognizes organizations that are future-proofing broadband networks to meet the technical demands of next-generation content and user interaction — delivering ultra-low latency, massive bandwidth, and intelligent optimization to unlock new digital possibilities.

Winner:

China Telecom
Wide-area Intelligent Computing Network for Large-Scale Model Training
Raisecom
World’s First High-Quality Business Leased-Line Delivered by Optical Service Extend (OSE)
Safaricom
Safaricom’s Affordable Broadband for All: Pioneering Africa’s Smart Cities Through Digital Equity and Innovation
Sunrise
Sunrise HyperEdge: AI-Optimized Broadband Infrastructure for Immersive Digital Futures in Africa
Trailblazer Broadband
Estes Park’s Fiber-Enabled Smart Grid

Submission Proof Points

Applicants should provide evidence covering the following areas:

Project Overview: Description of the innovation, including scope, technology used, and objectives.
Application Enablement: Explanation of how the solution enables AI, Metaverse, cloud gaming, XR, or other immersive future applications.
Technical Innovation: Description of breakthrough technologies or novel architectural approaches (e.g., edge computing, ultra-low latency optimization, traffic shaping, content delivery acceleration).
Performance Results: Measurable improvements in latency, throughput, jitter, reliability, or end-user quality of experience (QoE).
User or Business Impact: Tangible outcomes for customers or content providers—such as expanded service offerings, monetization, or customer experience enhancement.
Scalability & Future-readiness: How the solution is designed for mass adoption and evolving content demands.
Partnerships & Collaboration: Joint efforts with platform providers, developers, or cloud ecosystems, if applicable.
Testimonials & Validation: Case studies, client endorsements, or third-party recognition.

Submission Format:

Entries will only be accepted when submitted in the English language only.
Entries exceeding the 500-word limit will not be considered for review by the judges.
Supporting documents may be included with entry. If applicable, please submit supporting documents (up to 5 pages) in .doc, .ppt, or .pdf format. Please name the file using the format:
Company Name/Individual Name - Category Name
Only entries demonstrating industry application and innovation submitted since October 2023 will be considered.

Criteria included will consider assessment of:

How to Stand Out

Successful submissions to the WBBA Broadband Excellence Awards typically demonstrate:

Clear & Concise: Clear alignment to the selected award category and intended applicant profile.
Evidence-Based:Evidence of realworld deployment and measurable impact and not just concepts or marketing claims.
Scalability & Repeatability:Leadership, scale, and replicability beyond a single project or organisation
Outcome-driven:A concise, outcome‑focused narrative explaining what was delivered, why it matters, and what changed as a result.

Key Dates

Submissions Open:12 May 2026
Deadline::6 July 2026 (17:00 GMT)
Shortlist Announcement:14 September 2026
Awards Ceremony:14 October 2026

Award Brief

The Smart Gigacity Excellence Award celebrates visionary partnerships between operators and city governments that demonstrate how broadband, and AI can transform urban living through smart public services as well as excellence and innovation in progression towards being a gigacity. This award recognizes projects that have successfully deployed high-speed broadband and intelligent technologies to build more connected, sustainable, and inclusive cities.

Whether through smart mobility, digital healthcare, e-governance, energy management, or real-time city services, this award honours the integration of broadband infrastructure and AI innovation to improve quality of life, urban resilience, and operational efficiency at scale.

Winner(s):

Advanced City:

Developing City:

Judging Panel Special Award:

Recognition Awards:

(Brazil) Sao Paulo and Rio
presented by Claro
(China) Hainan
presented by China Unicom
(China) Shangrao
presented China Unicom
(China) Wuhan
presented by China Telecom / E-surfing
(Kenya) Nairobi
presented by Safaricom
(UAE) Abu Dhabi
presented by Optio AI
(USA) Estes Park
presented by Trailblazer Broadband

Submission Proof Points

Applicants should provide evidence covering the following areas:

Project Overview: Description of the smart city initiative, including objectives, stakeholders, and timeline.
Role of Broadband: Explanation of how fibre or high-speed broadband forms the digital foundation for city services.
Use of AI/Automation: How AI and data analytics have been used to enhance service delivery, responsiveness, or city operations.
Public Service Impact: Real-world benefits across areas such as traffic management, environmental monitoring, public safety, healthcare, or education.
Community Engagement: How the initiative has improved digital inclusion or access to services for underserved communities.
Partnership Model: Structure of collaboration between the operator and city authorities, including public-private partnerships or ecosystem contributions.
Sustainability Impact: How the solution contributes to energy efficiency, emissions reduction, or long-term urban sustainability.
KPIs & Validation: Metrics demonstrating impact, such as reduced commute times, increased service reach, improved citizen satisfaction, or cost savings.

Submission Format:

Entries will only be accepted when submitted in the English language only.
Entries exceeding the 500-word limit will not be considered for review by the judges.
Supporting documents may be included with entry. If applicable, please submit supporting documents (up to 5 pages) in .doc, .ppt, or .pdf format. Please name the file using the format:
Company Name/Individual Name - Category Name
Only entries of Gigacity initiatives since October 2021 will be considered.

Criteria included will consider assessment of:

Key Timelines

Entry Information

No entry fee is required.
Each company can enter multiple awards, but only one product/solution per category.
Answers must adhere to the word limit, with the option to include supporting documentation.
500‑word submission limit with the option to include supporting documentation.
For any inquiries regarding the awards, please reach out to [email protected]

Submission Guidelines

The Broadband Excellence Awards 2026 are open to all eligible broadband industry and supporting industry companies in the broad eco-system, as defined in the individual eligibility sections for each category. The broadband eco-system consists of (WBBA members and non-members) and includes organisations from vertical industries for most categories.
Entries must be submitted via the WBBA Broadband Excellence Awards online submission platform (Eventsforce).
Entries will only be accepted when submitted in the English language only.
Entries exceeding the 500-word limit will not be considered for review by the judges.
Supporting documents may be included with entry. If applicable, please submit supporting documents (up to 5 pages) in .doc, .ppt, or .pdf format. Please name the file using the format: Company Name/Individual Name - Category Name
The Smart Gigacity Excellence award is evaluated based on on-going progression-based performance since October 2021.
Judges are selected for their industry expertise and neutrality and will recuse themselves from evaluating submissions from their own companies, if necessary.
The highest scoring submissions will be shortlisted, and award recipients will be revealed during the Official Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 14th October.
Submissions close on 6 July (5pm UK time).
For any enquiries about the awards, please reach out to Nicole Cheah at [email protected].

Supporting Documents

Confidentiality

The WBBA, along with its partner Informa Tech, acknowledges and values the sensitive nature of the information provided in the entries. We ensure that this understanding is upheld by the judging panel, and entries are treated with strict confidentiality throughout the judging process.

The judging panel is carefully chosen to prevent any potential conflicts of interest. If an entry is shortlisted, only non-confidential extracts from the entry summary will be used for the awards ceremony and any related editorial coverage.

Please ensure that the entry summary does not contain any confidential information.

Top Tips For Entering

Ensure Entry Meets the Criteria: Don't let simple errors like choosing the wrong category lead to rejection. Just as judges scrutinize submissions against the criteria, it's crucial to conduct the same review.
Bolster Your Entry with Customer Use-Cases: Highlighting real-world deployments, success stories, and customer benefits will significantly enhance the credibility of your application.
Respect the Word Limit: Maximize the 500-word limit by focusing on pertinent information. Incorporate statistics, figures, and measurable results to underscore your achievements. Real-life examples demonstrating the application of your technology and its impactful outcomes are highly recommended.
Be Direct and Concise: Capture the judges' attention by starting with key information about your entry. Provide clear, concise explanations of the What, Where, When, and How of the submission.
Don't Limit Yourself to One Category: Feel free to enter multiple categories. There's no restriction on the number of categories you can participate in.
Meet the Deadline: Ensure the entry is submitted on time. Late entries will not be considered.

2025 Winners

Network Infrastructure Innovation Excellence-China Telecom/E-Surfing loT Tech ,Turkcell
Al in Network Excellence-T-Mobile
Broadband Innovation Excellence for Future Applications-Safaricom
Broadband for Digital Inclusion Excellence-AztelekomOnline Azerbajjan,Globe Telecom
Intelligent Home Innovation Excellence-China Unicom
Smart Gigacity Excellence—

Advanced city:-(Argentina) Recreo, Charata, Cafayate and Anatuya, (China) Beijing
Developing City- (Kenya) Nakuru and Kiambu, (Tunisia) Tunis
Judging Panel Special Award:-STC
Recognition Awards-(Brazil) Sao Paulo and Rio, (China) Hainan, (China) Shangrao, (China) Shangrao, (China) Wuhan, (China) Wuhan, (UAE) Abu Dhabi, (USA) Estes Park

2024 Winners

Outstanding Contribution the Network Excellence – China Unicom
Excellence in Broadband Application – China Telecom
Network Innovation Excellence towards Realisation of Future Networks and Services - STC
Product and Solution Excellence – Nokia
Gigacity Excellence –

Judging Methodology

WBBA judges are meticulously chosen for their extensive market knowledge, esteemed reputation within the industry, and commitment to impartiality. Each judge independently and anonymously evaluates every entry on a scale of 1 to 10, considering both the information provided in the entry and any accompanying supporting materials. The scores are aggregated, and the entrant with the highest average score emerges as the winner. In the event of a tie, judges deliberate to determine the ultimate victor. Any attempt by an entrant to provide additional information or exert undue influence on the judges will result in their disqualification from the awards process. The complete Awards program, encompassing categories, judges, judging methodology, and more, will be prominently featured on the WBBA website.

Judges

Sue Rudd, Managing Director, BB and Comms
Brahima Sanou, Founder and CEO, BrahPartners Ltd
Li Junjie, Chief Expert, China Telecom
Tang Hong, Chief Expert, China Telecom
Sun Qiong, Deputy Chief Engineer of Cloud Network Operating System R&D Center, China Telecom
Shi Ying, Director of Project Management Centre, China Telecom Research Institute
Fu Zhiren, Vice Dean, China Telecom Research Institute
Sun Zhenqiang, Senior Expert, China Telecom Research Institute
Yang Mingchuan, Director of the Big data and AI Research Division, China Telecom Research Institute
Xiao Qing, Deputy Chief Engineer & Senior Expert, China Telecom Shanghai Branch
Dr Wu Jia, Senior Engineer, Network Technology Research, China Unicom Research Institute
Mechthild Eickhoff, CEO, Fonds Soziokultur e. V.
Dr Marcus Brunner, Chief Experts for Enhanced Broadband, Huawei
Martin O’Brien, Senior Consultant, Business Innovation, Huawei
Chris Lewis, Founding Director, Lewis Insight
Alan Breznick, Principal Analyst, Light Reading
Adlane Fellah, Founder and Chief Analyst, Maravedis LLC
Alexia Gonzalex Fanfalone, Head of the Connectivity Servies and Infrastructure Unit, OECD
Ramona Zhao, Research Manager, Omdia
Sameer Malik, Senior Principal Analyst, Omdia
Kerem Arsal, Senior Principal Analyst, Omdia
James Crawshaw, Practice Leader, Omdia
Yang Guang, Senior Principal Analyst, Omdia
Michael Philpott, Senior Research Director, Omdia
Pal Karlsen, Senior Analyst, Omdia
Ian Redpath, Research Director, Omdia
Stephen Wilson, Senior Principal Analyst, Omdia
Katherine Macdonald, Senior Director, Ookla
Mark Giles, Lead Industry Analyst, Ookla
Kevin Hasley, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Ookla
Boris Koprivnikar, CEO, Sincular consulting d.o.o.
Prashant Gondaliya, Associate Director – Presales, VerSe Technology
Ambika Khurana, Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Vodafone Idea Limited