Telecom Review Excellence Awards 2024: Meet the Winners

Telecom Review Group, together with an independent panel of judges, remains dedicated and committed to acknowledging the best-of-the-best in terms of corporate growth, user experience, diversity and inclusion, technological deployment, ICT investment, corporate social responsibility (CSR), digital customer experience, and green initiatives. Moreover, the intricate specificity of Telecom Review Group’s award categories helps the industry identify those driving notable transformation in particular niches, such as app journeys, employer initiatives, content governance, smart city acceleration, and digital storefront applications.

Commenting on the success of the event, Toni Eid, Founder of Telecom Review Group and CEO of Trace Media International, said, “A heartfelt thank you to all participants, distinguished speakers, and partners for their unwavering support for the huge success of the 18^th Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit. The two days have been filled with excitement, networking, and knowledge-sharing. We look ahead with anticipation to the continued evolution of industry discourse and innovative advancements, and we will be ready to craft another chapter in ICT leadership excellence. Join us next year for another groundbreaking 19^th edition!”

Jeff Seal, Chief of the Awards Committee, Managing Partner and Editor-in-Chief, Telecom Review Americas, added, “In 2024, the Telecom Review Excellence Awards set a new benchmark, attracting significant industry interest with a record-breaking number of global nominations. To accommodate this, we introduced more distinct awards on a global and regional scale. These awards remain the industry standard for peer recognition, thanks to the thorough deliberation by our esteemed panel of global experts. Congratulations to all the winners, and we look forward to another celebration of excellence next year!"

Below is the full list of winners announced during the Telecom Review Excellence Awards 2024 ceremony:

Telecom Review Regional Excellence Awards

• Best 5G-Advanced Innovation (Vendor) Africa: Telcovas

Telcovas’s Automated Roaming Assist (ARA) leverages AI to pioneer customer experience management solutions tailored to the demands of global telecommunications.

• Best CSR Initiative Africa: Sofrecom & Orange Egypt

For several years now, both companies have been committed to addressing customer challenges while working toward the ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040—an impressive decade ahead of Europe’s set deadline.

• Best Fiber Infrastructure Deployment Americas: Verizon Partner Solutions

Verizon’s fiber deployment serves as the foundation of its 5G Ultra Wideband network, which offers ultra-fast speeds and low latency across urban and densely populated areas.

• Most Innovative Product/Service/Automation (Vendor) Americas: Netcracker

Netcracker created the industry’s first blueprint for multi-orbit satellite IT, incorporating new innovations to help satellite providers extract every bit of monetary value from their massive investments. Netcracker’s first LEO customer was Telesat, which deployed Netcracker’s entire solution on its live LEO satellites and engaged their customers using a powerful MEF-compliant NaaS framework.

• Best Technology Deployment Americas: TELUS

In 2024, TELUS announced Canada’s first deployment of Open RAN (ORAN), a transformative technology that embraces a modular framework by allowing software and hardware components from multiple vendors to work together seamlessly.

• Best MVNO (5G Secure First Response) Americas: GuardianSafetyNet

The concept for a new, innovative, reliable network to support Canadian first responder field communications originated when Chief Nishan Duraiappah, from the Peel Regional Police service, and Chief Stephen Tanner, from the Halton Regional Police service, collaborated on a video analytics Proof of Concept (PoC). GuardianSafetyNet then delivered.

• Best Security Solution Provider Americas: One37 Solutions

One37 Solutions has been recognized across the telecom sector for revolutionizing how identity and security are managed in the AI era.

• Best 5G-Advanced Business Innovation (Operator) Asia: China Mobile International

Revolutionizing Industries with 5G-A, China Mobile International is leading the telecommunications industry with its groundbreaking commercial deployment of the 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network.

• Best ‘Telco-Techco’ Partnership Award Asia: e& International Digital JV

e& International Digital JV’s collaboration has redefined what a digital-first telco can achieve, particularly in challenging markets like Pakistan. This partnership led to the creation of a fully digital mobile operator that transformed a traditional, cash-first market by building trust through innovative digital services.

• Best Digital Transformation Provider (Vendor) Asia: ZTE

ZTE’s AI-powered solution provides telcos and enterprise customers across various industries with a reliable way to reintegrate voice and SMS as trusted components of a seamless omnichannel customer interaction strategy.

• Most Innovative Product/Service/Automation (Vendor) Asia: MYCOM OSI/Globe Telecom

The standout feature of the solution provided to the client was its ability to automatically correlate data from IT systems and fixed/mobile networks to identify and resolve issues. A dedicated service path was established to generate a Service Quality Index (SQI), with customer usage patterns modeled to assess the impact on mobile broadband, fixed broadband, and enterprise services.

• Best BSS/OSS Solution Asia: AvanteBSS

AvanteBSS specializes in creating enterprise BSS solutions that empower service providers across a variety of industries, including telecommunications, utilities, energy, banking, and data storage and processing.

• Best ICT Investment Asia: Power International Holding

Power International Holding has recently expanded into the telecom, media, and technology (TMT) sector. This strategic move includes the acquisition of Tele2 Kazakhstan from Kazakhtelecom JSC, the state operator.

• Best Cloud Provider (Operator) Asia: du

du’s cloud migration services provide discovery, assessment, design, and planning to ensure an efficient and optimized approach to the cloud.

• Most Innovative Product/Service/Automation (Vendor) Europe: VOX Solutions

VOX’s solution is the first-of-its-kind and enables MNOs to monetize flash calls through an official billing framework, opening a new channel for secure authentication and collaboration between operators and enterprises.

• Best 5G-Advanced Leading Network (Operator) Middle East: du

du holds 400 MHz in the mmWave spectrum and has made substantial investments in deploying its 5G network across the UAE, ensuring comprehensive coverage, including within all indoor locations.

• Best 5G-Advanced Business Innovation (Operator) Middle East: Zain KSA

Zain KSA’s journey to becoming a leader in 5G-Advanced user experience is a story of a future-forward strategy and unwavering commitment to powering a digital lifestyle that inclusively serves a knowledge-based society.

• Best 5G-Advanced Innovation (Vendor) Middle East: Huawei

Huawei is leading the commercial rollout of 5G networks worldwide by laying the groundwork for new networks, developing 5G commercial devices, and nurturing an ecosystem of telco organizations, vendors, and consumers prepared to seize new opportunities.

• Best Cloud Provider (Operator) Middle East: Ooredoo Oman

Ooredoo Oman has been a trusted cloud provider since 2017, offering a wide range of cloud services to both regional and global customers. Backed by a team of managed ICT services experts, they deliver cloud hosting solutions through multiple state-of-the-art data centers, ensuring full local data residency within Oman.

• Best Wholesale Company Middle East: Mobily

Mobily has firmly established itself as a leader in the regional wholesale telecommunications market through strategic investments, innovation, and a customer-first approach.

• Best Fixed 5G Network Provider Middle East: stc KSA

In 2018, stc KSA introduced 5G services on a commercial scale, marking a significant milestone as one of the first operators in the MENA region to do so. Since then, they have continuously evolved and expanded their network infrastructure to address the surging demand for high-speed, low latency, 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services.

• Best Loyalty & Rewards Program Middle East: Asiacell/Related

With a subscriber base exceeding 17 million, Asiacell and Related play a crucial role in both the region’s digital transformation journey and the adoption of loyalty and rewards solutions across the market.

• Best Digital Transformation Provider (Vendor) Middle East: Comarch/du

Operating in the digital landscape requires developing business-relevant marketing strategies, improving customer experience, and finding new ways to become even more competitive. Comarch and du are making this happen.

• Best Innovative Regulator Middle East: TDRA UAE

Enabling and regulating the telecommunications and digital government sector to drive the provision of smart, sustainable, and efficient services has been a success under TDRA UAE’s guidance.

• Best CSR Initiative Middle East: du

du is a leader in the UAE's telecom sector and has made substantial strides in cyber-safety awareness, recognizing the importance of digital well-being in an increasingly connected world. du’s initiatives, underpinned by partnerships with UNICEF and prominent organizations, are built to foster online safety for diverse segments of the UAE population, from young children to senior citizens.

• Best 5G-Advanced User Experience (Operator) Middle East: e& UAE

e& UAE has distinguished itself as a leader in the deployment and innovation of 5G technology, significantly enhancing the connectivity experience for consumers across the UAE. This commitment is evident through a series of pioneering initiatives and achievements that not only demonstrate advanced technological deployment but also highlight a customer-centric approach to providing tailored solutions for modern digital lifestyles.

• Most Innovative Product/Service/Automation (Vendor) Middle East: YUVO

YUVO launched a cutting-edge Network Insight (NI) solution for AI/ML-geared operations to equip teams with ahead-of-the-curve, intent-based, and customer-centric early warning indicators that secure unparalleled customer network experience.

• Best AI Application for Telco (Vendor) Middle East: Nokia Networks & Solutions/stc

Nokia Networks & Solutions and stc’s industry-leading network optimization and automation platform uses self-configuring modules to boost network performance and efficiency.

• Best BSS/OSS Solution (Operator) Middle East: Zain KSA

Zain KSA’s next-generation BSS architecture has been instrumental in transforming its business operations, ensuring a customer-focused and agile system.

• Best Technology Deployment Middle East: stc Bahrain

stc Bahrain’s deployment of advanced Voice Core traffic using GSMA SeDoC-based architecture, alongside the first live implementation of the latest 5G SA Network Elements (NEs) and the creation of a converged telco cloud, showcases its strong technology deployment capabilities.

• Best MVNO Middle East: Salam

Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) reached SAR 70, surpassing the market average of SAR 60. This performance highlights Salam’s success in offering valued services and its ability to generate higher-than-average returns.

• Best Telecom Operator Middle East: e& UAE

e& UAE has provided excellent service for many years, including the innovative integration of GenAI technology.

• Most Innovative Product/Service (Operator) Middle East: du

du’s digital Innovation enables organizations to leverage technologies that deliver customer service excellence and optimize operations across industry verticals.

• Best Data Center Provider (Operator) Middle East: center3

In just 14 months center3 has advanced the data center landscape in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region, doubling its operational capacity with the addition of 30 performance optimized data centers (PODs).

• Best Data Center Provider (Vendor) Middle East: Cisco

Cisco is leading the transformation of data center infrastructure, providing a competitive edge through key innovations such as the Silicon One solution, powered by NVIDIA, which boosts AI/ML performance by up to 1.9x.

• Best Security Solution Provider Middle East: Fortinet

Fortinet has a dedicated operations team focused on sales implementation and support for the telecom sector, offering customized solutions and design blueprints specifically for mobile operators. As one of the first vendors to engage in 5G security, Fortinet has also played an active role in shaping telecom standards.

• Best Smart City Acceleration Initiative Middle East: InfraX, A Digital DEWA Company

InfraX has developed a robust IoT infrastructure that enables seamless connectivity across multiple smart city solutions, fostering real-time data integration and streamlined operations.

Telecom Review Global Excellence Awards

• Best Fiber Infrastructure Deployment Global: TELUS

TELUS’s generational investments in fiber-optic internet since 2013 have transformed the way Canadians live, work, and connect. Guided by social purpose, TELUS has also diversified its business on a global scale.

• Best Wholesale Company Global: Airtel

Airtel is a powerhouse in wholesale voice, SMS, and data offerings, supported by an expansive, robust, infrastructure that spans 50 countries across five continents.

• Most Innovative Product/Service/Automation (Vendor) Global: NEC

NEC’s products and services have been adopted and used by a large number of companies and organizations in a wide range of fields and businesses such as manufacturing, retail, logistics, and public services.

• Best AI Use for All Verticals Global: AB Handshake

AB Handshake’s AI-powered solution provides telcos and enterprise customers across various industries with a reliable way to reintegrate voice and SMS as trusted components of a seamless omnichannel customer interaction strategy.

• Most Innovative Product/Service (Operator) Global: Console Connect

The need for NaaS is being driven by the rise of GenAI and the migration of more workloads to the cloud. This means networks are handling larger volumes of more sensitive and mission-critical data, and with this, comes the need for carriers and their enterprise customers to reassess how sensitive data travels between public and private cloud environments. Console Connect is actively addressing this need.

• Best AI Application for Telco Global: Huawei Autonomous Network and China Mobile

Huawei has integrated AI technologies into an all-cloud network architecture to develop autonomous networks, enabling telecom carriers to carry out a complete end-to-end digitization process that spans network planning, deployment, maintenance, and operations.

• Best Technology Deployment Global: Mavenir

Mavenir’s Open vRAN and OpenBeam products are reshaping the telecom industry by providing cloud-native, Open RAN compliant solutions, powering flexible, cost-effective, and scalable networks of the future.

• Best App Digital Storefront Global: Apptium Technologies

Apptium has earned the trust of its customers by providing a comprehensive 360° view of their products, behaviors, billing, and alerts, serving as a reliable advisor in the process.

• Best BSS/OSS Solution Global: Netcracker

The implementation of Netcracker's fully cloud-native BSS/OSS stack, including managed services, has delivered impressive results for its customers. The new best-of-suite IT environment now effectively supports all of its B2C mobile customers.

• Best Digital Transformation Provider (Vendor) Global: Huawei

In 2022, Huawei worked with carriers and partners around the world to create simplified, green, and intelligent ICT infrastructure. Test results demonstrated that Huawei’s 5G networks, deployed for customers in 13 countries, delivered the best user experience.

Telecom Review Regional Merit Leader Awards

1. Merit Leader CEO of the Year – Operator (Global):

Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH)  

Vikram Sinha is a business leader and a turn-around specialist with a track record of driving top-line growth, increasing profitability, and building teams across different industries and geographies.

2. Merit Leader CEO of the Year – Operator (Middle East):

Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO, du

With a career spanning over two decades, Fahad Al Hassawi has held several leadership positions at Dubai’s Emirates Airlines and du. He was the acting CEO following the departure of Johan Dennelind last year.

3. Merit Leader CEO of the Year – MVNO (Middle East):

Ahmed Al-Anqari, CEO, Salam

Ahmed Al-Anqari brings over 20 years of experience in the Saudi technology and telecommunications sector. He spent his early years working in the power sector as a computer engineer for the Saudi Electric Company (SEC) and as a network expert with the Saudi Telecom Company (stc).

4. Merit Leader CEO of the Year – Infrastructure Company (Middle East):

Fahad AlHajeri, CEO, center3

Through its fully integrated service platform, which features purpose-built data centers and a strategic subsea cable network, Fahad AlHajeri’s company aims to enhance connectivity and drive economic growth throughout the region significantly.

5. Merit Leader CEO of the Year – Vendor (Middle East):

Steven Yi, President, Middle East and Central Asia, Huawei

Under Steven Yi’s leadership, Huawei is pioneering ICT innovation and connectivity, shaping the future of digital networks, driving sustainable transformation, securing the digital realm, and bridging the talent gap.