NETWORK X AWARDS 2025
CELEBRATING TELECOM EXCELLENCE
SHORTLIST REVEAL
The wait is over! The 2025 Network X Awards nominees have just been announced!
Scroll down to explore the full shortlist and see who is in the running for this year’s top honours!
2025 Finalists - Solution Provider Categories
Solution Provider categories focus on the leading solutions from technology providers and vendors in the industry.
Best All-Round Optical Transport Vendor
Ciena
Ciena and WaveLogic 6 Extreme
Huawei
Huawei AI-centric all-optical network solution
Nokia
AI-Era Networking Strategy
ZTE
ZTE-Full-Band Tbit OTN Solution
Leading Core Network Solution
Huawei
China Mobile & Huawei AI Core Solution
RETN
RETN - Pan-Eurasian Next-Gen 400GbE Sustainable Network
SingTel
Singtel CUBΣ
ZTE
Huthchison Drei Austria GmbH&ZTE
Leading Data Centre Networks Solution
Huawei
Huawei provides a full-scenario solution for both DCI and DCN. For DCI, OSN 9800 K36/K12 and DC908 products unify the super C+L band and provide high-capacity and high-reliability. For DCN, the DX808 non-blocking all-optical switch product improves AI computing efficiency, decreases the failure rate and power consumption by SFP-free design.
Nokia
Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA) is a data center automation platform. It is a key enabler of Nokia’s mission to eliminate human error.EDA creates multi-vendor data center networks so reliable that operators can make changes without fear. It simplifies the entire lifecycle management of the network, from provisioning to assurance.
Rakuten Symphony
Rakuten Cloud simplifies telecom network deployments with AI-powered automation, streamlining Day 1 and Day 2 operations. As 5G and edge grow, it enables businesses to scale effortlessly from a few sites to thousands of data centers, managing virtualized and containerized network functions with ease.
Most Innovative AI-Ran Implementation
AsiaInfo Technologies
China Telecom & AsiaInfo Technologies, AI-RAN-Based Multi-Agent Collaboration for Video Experience Assurance
Ericsson
Bharti Airtel & Ericsson – AI-Driven Software Enhancements for Sustainable Network Energy Management
HUMAX Networks
HUMAX Networks INC. - OCRA (Optical Compass & Robotic Arm) provides accurate real-time azimuth sensing from antennas and enables precise remote tilt and steer control. Proven through collaboration with operators such as KT and SKT, it empowers AI-RAN platforms to optimize performance through visibility and automation.
Most Innovative Enterprise or Smart City PON Use Case
Huawei
Huawei's FTTR for SME solution
Nokia
Nokia and Chorus “PON for Smart Cherry Farming”
ZTE
ZTE/ZTE's high-end PON computing gateway solution
Most Innovative IP Transport Solution
Ciena
MXT Holdings (MXT), a leading telecommunications infrastructure provider in Mexico, is enhancing its neutral-host network with Ciena’s coherent routing solution.
Huawei
Huawei AI based IP Network Optimization Solution automates data collection, monitoring, and optimization to enhance network performance. It helps telecom operators reduce congestion and optimize resources. Future deployments will align with TMF L4.0 standards, improving network efficiency.
Netaş Telekomünikasyon
Turkcell and Netas; APE Modernization-Pioneering MAN Innovation, redefining metro network modernization benchmarks
Netcracker Technology
With Netcracker as its strategic partner, Swisscom embarked on a pioneering network operations transformation that started with IP Transport. The success of this domain led to the creation of a domain blueprint and innovative “IT-as-a-Service” offering to accelerate and scale autonomous networking across Swisscom’s entire business.
Ribbon
The NPT 2714 Fully Redundant Aggregation Router is the industry’s first aggregation router to bring functionality previously reserved for service edge routers to the aggregation network. Its unique orthogonal architecture allows in-service and hitless upgradability from a 7.2Tbs to 14.4Tbs non-blocking router.
ZTE
China Mobile Zhejiang Branch and ZTE leverage large/small language models, digital twins, and multi-screen dashboards to streamline end-to-end fault identification, diagnosis, repair, and verification. The intelligent solution reduces Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) by 30%, yielding annual savings of 1 million USD in operational costs.
Most Innovative Optical Transport Use Case
Huawei
Huawei DC-OTN Solution
Nokia
Nokia ICE-X 800G ZR/ZR+ Intelligent Coherent Pluggables
Ribbon
Ribbon, Resilient Philippines Nationwide DWDM Network using Advanced WSON
Tejas Networks
Tejas intelligent Alien Wave (iWave) solution
ZTE
Türk Telekom/ZTE-The world's first 1.6Tbps DWDM trial with 12THz bandwidth on the live network
Open RAN Excellence
Qualcomm
Qualcomm Technologies and Viettel’s live Open RAN Massive MIMO 5G Network - Dragonwing QRU100 Platform for Massive MIMO Radio Units together with Dragonwing X100 Accelerator Card for Distributed Units.
Rakuten Symphony
Rakuten Site Management, an AI-powered deployment suite, proven at scale, driving automation, efficiency, and transformation.
Wind River
Wind River Cloud Platform
Outstanding Green Fibre Use Case
Huawei
Huawei Intelligent SingleFAN Pro solution
Technetix
Technetix: “Ultra-Low Power GPON rOLT”
ZTE
China Mobile Group Beijing Co., Ltd and ZTE XGS-PON Smart Energy-saving Project
Outstanding Multi-Gigabit Fibre Access Innovation
Altice Labs
Altice Labs - Dual SFP GPON, Dual SFP+ XGS-PON in an OLT2T0E
Argela
SEBA Project
Ciena
Ciena - broadband deployment wiht Sodvin AS
Huawei
Huawei Ultra-broadband intelligent OLT MA5800T
Nokia
Nokia, Next-generation multi-PON solution for mass scale multi-gigabit
ZTE
ZTE 50G-PON&10G-EPON&EPON 3-Gen PON Coexistence on One Fiber
Outstanding Network Slicing Innovation
Ericsson
Telstra & Ericsson – Dynamic 5G with Network Slicing
Mavenir
Mavenir 5G SA Core Powers ice Norway Network Slicing for Norwegian Armed Forces
SingTel
Singtel's 5G+ Priority and Enterprise Mobile Protect
Outstanding POL Campus Use Case
Huawei
Huawei FTTO solution
Nokia
Nokia´s Optical LAN deployment at a major European museum
ZTE
China Unicom Nagqu and ZTE/Building the Highest Altitude All-optical Hospital Network to Narrow the Digital Divide
Outstanding FTTH Service
Huawei
Huawei Intelligent SingleFAN Pro solution
KT
KT Combo PON
Netcracker Technology
Netcracker Technology - Netcracker Fiber Cloud Solution
Nokia
Hong Kong Broadband Networks (HKBN) and Nokia “25G GigaFast broadband”
Technetix
Technetix: “Fiber to the Tree House!”
ZTE
China Mobile Research Institute, China Mobile Group Jiangsu Co., Ltd, and ZTE 50G-PON + FTTR + 5G FMC Residential Community Application
Most Innovative Smart Home Experience
Bitdefender
Smart Home Security, powered by Bitdefender
Humax Networks
HUMAX Networks INC. – MONI POD (Wi-Fi Sensing Family Care Solution), uses advanced Wi-Fi Sensing and AI technology to provide non-intrusive family care analytics, such as daily and weekly activity reports, without cameras or physical sensors, ensuring privacy and seamlessly integrating with existing Wi-Fi setups for family care.
Incognito Software Systems
Incognito Software Systems Inc. / No Device Left Behind: Incognito Transforms the Smart Home with Unified Connectivity and Voice-Driven Insights
SoftAtHome
SoftAtHome - Virtual Home Assistant
TP-Link
TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 router with Thread
ZTE
ZTE Next-gen Smart Screen, Embracing AI-powered Inclusive Life
Leading In-Home Wi-Fi Service
Huawei
Huawei AI homehub
KT
WiFi 7-Based Connectivity AI Orchestration
Lifemote
Lifemote – Holistic In-Home Wi-Fi Analytics & Support Transformation Platform
SoftAtHome
SoftAtHome - WorkAtHome
TP-Link
TP-Link Custom Wi-Fi 7 VoIP Router
ZTE
ZTE & China Mobile Communications Group Yunnan Co., Ltd./AI FTTR Revolutionizes the Smart Home Experience
Best Indoor Connectivity Solution
Boldyn
Boldyn Networks
Freshwave
Freshwave’s Omni Network on the ANDREW RP5000
SoftAtHome
SoftAtHome – Home Audit
ZTE
ZTE Full-Scenario Indoor Digitalization Solutions
Best Network AI Solution for Fibre Networks
Altice Labs
Altice Labs – AnD (Autonomous Network Designer)
Bitdefender
Bitdefender/Smart Home Security - Anomaly Detection
Huawei
Huawei Premium Broadband solution
MediaTek/Airoha Technology
MediaTek Filogic’s future-ready edge-AI enables and explores a new era for Fiber Gateway
Nokia
Nokia, Broadband Easy – a digital approach for efficient fiber roll out
ZTE
China Mobile Group Fujian Co., Ltd and ZTE LLM-based ChatOPS Empower AI Transformation in Autonomous Fiber Access Network
FWA Solution of the Year
Ericsson & Qualcomm
Ericsson, Qualcomm & NBN Co - Extended-range Gigabit FWA on 5G mmW technology
Fibocom Wireless
AI-Powered 5G FWA CPE Solution
Nokia
Multi-tenant 5G Fixed-Wireless Access for MDUs
Solace Power
Nova - a fully self-installable 5G FWA solution that utilizes Solace's patented wireless power and data through-window technology
TCL
TCL HH516 5G AI CPE
ZTE Corporation
ZTE Beyond visual range mmWave FWA for rural hinterlands
Best AI-Driven Mobile Network Solution
AsiaInfo Technologies
China Mobile & AsiaInfo Technologies, AN Evo Drives Innovation in China Mobile's Network Operations
Ericsson
Ericsson and DNB - AI-Driven Intent-Based Operations for the World's First 5G MOCN Network
Huawei Technologies
Agentic AI and Digital Twin based ICNMater Solution Empowers Autonomous Core Network L4
Mavenir
Mavenir's Network Intelligence-as-a-Service (NIaaS)
Qualcomm
Qualcomm Dragonwing™ RAN Automation Suite
ZTE Corporation
ZTE's AIR Net autonomous networks solution
2025 Finalists - Operator Categories
Operator categories focus on service innovation and monetisation from operators in the industry.
Best Smart Home Customer Experience
ACT Fibernet
ACT Fibernet & Aprecomm for ACT Smart Wi-Fi powered by Aprecomm
China Mobile
China Mobile's AI+ Platform
China Unicom
China Unicom Smart Home Tongtong
SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited
SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited - Built for Families. Designed for the Future
Most Innovative RAN Energy Efficiency Implementation
Bharti Airtel
Bharti Airtel & Ericsson – AI-Driven Software Enhancements for Sustainable Network Energy Management
KT
KT, AI-based ES Orchestrator
SK Telecom
SK Telecom, Daytime Energy Saving Technology in 5G Networks
Outstanding Optical Transport Telco
Colt
Colt Technology Services – Terabit-scale, Quantum-secure and Sustainable Optical network
MASORANGE
Introduction of one 1,2 Tbps lambda by using WDM technology between two sites separated 310,7 km in Masorange commercial network without the need to regenerate the WDM signal
Saudi Telecom Company
Saudi stc's DC Interconnection High-Speed DWDM Project.
Telstra
Telstra Optical Network Technology and Resilience leadership - in partnership with Ericsson & Ciena
Turkcell
Next-Generation Super C+L Backbone: Unleashing 400G to 1.6T Capacity with ASON Resilience
Zain KSA
Zain Optical Network Modernization
Most Innovative Telco AI Deployment
China Mobile Shandong Co
China Mobile Shandong - Intelligent Network Change Management Platform (INCMP)
STC
Saudi Telecom Company Intelligent Management Data Analytics Solution
KT
KT, AICT company
LG Uplus
LG Uplus for AI-based Smart Scaling
SK Telecom
SK Telecom, Amazon Web Services
Turk Telekom
Turk Telekom/Nova ALFA (Network Optimization and Analyzer -Advance Line Fault Analysis)
CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE AMONGST INDUSTRY PEERS
All finalists are invited to an exclusive private reception aboard a luxury vessel cruising the Seine, where winners will be revealed amidst Paris's iconic landmarks.
Network with industry leaders during this extraordinary evening celebrating your achievement as part of telecoms' elite.
CELEBRATE SUCCESS. INSPIRE INNOVATION. SHAPE THE FUTURE.
2025 Awards Programme in Numbers
+
Entries
+
Companies
+
Judges
Categories
+
Countries