Objective:
To recognize innovations and achievements in public Wi-Fi networks deployed by operators.

Who is eligible:
Network operators and/or network operators along with their technology partners.

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Recognizing advancements in Wi-Fi deployment, security, and reliability. E.g. innovations in network deployment techniques, spectrum optimization, AI-driven management, and emerging business models for public Wi-Fi.
• Business Innovation: Highlighting new commercial models such as ad-supported Wi-Fi, municipal partnerships, and roaming integrations. E.g. novel pricing strategies, monetization approaches, and partnership-driven network expansion.
• User Experience Enhancement: Assessed by factors like geographic reach, number of connected users, and improvements in digital accessibility. E.g. network uptime, seamless connectivity, security and overall service reliability.
• Market Impact & Scale: Measured by reach, user adoption, and economic or social benefits. Recognizes efficiency improvements, broader accessibility, and transformative effects on connectivity ecosystems.

Objective:
Recognize innovations and advances in Wi-Fi network technologies that are commercially available and launched in at least one country / market by the time of entry deadline.

Who is eligible:
Technology companies developing Wi-Fi technology based products (chipset, devices, equipment, applications or services).

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Recognizing advancements in Wi-Fi deployment, security, and reliability. E.g. innovations in network deployment techniques, spectrum optimization, AI-driven management, and emerging business models for public Wi-Fi.
• Business Innovation: Highlighting new commercial models such as ad-supported Wi-Fi, municipal partnerships, and roaming integrations. E.g. novel pricing strategies, monetization approaches, and partnership-driven network expansion.
• User Experience Enhancement: Assessed by factors like geographic reach, number of connected users, and improvements in digital accessibility. E.g. network uptime, seamless connectivity, security and overall service reliability.
• Market Impact & Scale: Measured by reach, user adoption, and economic or social benefits. Recognizes efficiency improvements, broader accessibility, and transformative effects on connectivity ecosystems.

Objective:
Recognize innovative consumer-centric, in-home Wi-Fi networks and services that are commercially available and launched in at least one country / market by the time of entry deadline.

Who is eligible:
Network operators and/or technology companies developing products or solutions for in-home Wi-Fi network and services.

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Recognizing advancements in Wi-Fi deployment, security, and reliability. E.g. innovations in network deployment techniques, spectrum optimization, AI-driven management, and emerging business models for public Wi-Fi.
• Business Innovation: Highlighting new commercial models such as ad-supported Wi-Fi, municipal partnerships, and roaming integrations. E.g. novel pricing strategies, monetization approaches, and partnership-driven network expansion.
• User Experience Enhancement: Assessed by factors like geographic reach, number of connected users, and improvements in digital accessibility. E.g. network uptime, seamless connectivity, security and overall service reliability.
• Market Impact & Scale: Measured by reach, user adoption, and economic or social benefits. Recognizes efficiency improvements, broader accessibility, and transformative effects on connectivity ecosystems.

Objective:
Recognize innovative Wi-Fi network or services in enterprise environments (e.g. hospitality, retail, transportation, stadiums, healthcare, industrial or other verticals) that have been deployed on pre-commercial or commercial basis in at least one country / market by the time of entry deadline.

Who is eligible:
Enterprises and/or technology companies deploying products or solutions using Wi-Fi (with or without other wireless technologies) for enterprise network, services, applications, IOT etc.

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Recognizing advancements in Wi-Fi deployment, security, and reliability. E.g. innovations in network deployment techniques, spectrum optimization, AI-driven management, and emerging business models for public Wi-Fi.
• Business Innovation: Highlighting new commercial models such as ad-supported Wi-Fi, municipal partnerships, and roaming integrations. E.g. novel pricing strategies, monetization approaches, and partnership-driven network expansion.
• User Experience Enhancement: Assessed by factors like geographic reach, number of connected users, and improvements in digital accessibility. E.g. network uptime, seamless connectivity, security and overall service reliability.
• Market Impact & Scale: Measured by reach, user adoption, and economic or social benefits. Recognizes efficiency improvements, broader accessibility, and transformative effects on connectivity ecosystems.

Objective:
Recognize and celebrate innovative Wi-Fi network-based services for the benefit of society (smart cities, urban or remote communities) that have been deployed on trial or commercial basis in at least one country / market by the time of entry deadline.

Who is eligible:
Government or non-government organization (commercial as well as not-for-profit).

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Recognizing advancements in Wi-Fi deployment, security, and reliability. E.g. innovations in network deployment techniques, spectrum optimization, AI-driven management, and emerging business models for public Wi-Fi.
• Business Innovation: Highlighting new commercial models such as ad-supported Wi-Fi, municipal partnerships, and roaming integrations. E.g. novel pricing strategies, monetization approaches, and partnership-driven network expansion.
• User Experience Enhancement: Assessed by factors like geographic reach, number of connected users, and improvements in digital accessibility. E.g. network uptime, seamless connectivity, security and overall service reliability.
• Market Impact & Scale: Measured by reach, user adoption, and economic or social benefits. Recognizes efficiency improvements, broader accessibility, and transformative effects on connectivity ecosystems.

Objective:
Recognize and celebrate innovation and deployments with Wi-Fi, which enable seamless and secure support, greater interoperability and/or transformational benefits to customers that have been deployed and are available in at least one market by the entry deadline. (e.g. the product and services areas can be related to deployment with Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi in IoT, Wi-Fi in Convergence, Wi-Fi Application).

Who is eligible:
Network operators and/or technology companies developing products or solutions.

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Recognizing advancements in Wi-Fi deployment, security, and reliability. E.g. innovations in network deployment techniques, spectrum optimization, AI-driven management, and emerging business models for public Wi-Fi.
• Business Innovation: Highlighting new commercial models such as ad-supported Wi-Fi, municipal partnerships, and roaming integrations. E.g. novel pricing strategies, monetization approaches, and partnership-driven network expansion.
• User Experience Enhancement: Assessed by factors like geographic reach, number of connected users, and improvements in digital accessibility. E.g. network uptime, seamless connectivity, security and overall service reliability.
• Market Impact & Scale: Measured by reach, user adoption, and economic or social benefits. Recognizes efficiency improvements, broader accessibility, and transformative effects on connectivity ecosystems.

Objective:
Recognize and celebrate innovation and deployments with Wi-Fi, which enhance the quality of the user experience for customers and has been deployed and is available in at least one market by the entry deadline. (e.g. the product and service areas can be related to deployment with OpenRoaming, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi in IoT, Wi-Fi in Convergence, Wi-Fi Application).

Who is eligible:
Network operators and/or technology companies, enterprises, Government or social enterprises, developing products or solutions.

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Recognizing advancements in Wi-Fi deployment, security, and reliability. E.g. innovations in network deployment techniques, spectrum optimization, AI-driven management, and emerging business models for public Wi-Fi.
• Business Innovation: Highlighting new commercial models such as ad-supported Wi-Fi, municipal partnerships, and roaming integrations. E.g. novel pricing strategies, monetization approaches, and partnership-driven network expansion.
• User Experience Enhancement: Assessed by factors like geographic reach, number of connected users, and improvements in digital accessibility. E.g. network uptime, seamless connectivity, security and overall service reliability.
• Market Impact & Scale: Measured by reach, user adoption, and economic or social benefits. Recognizes efficiency improvements, broader accessibility, and transformative effects on connectivity ecosystems.

Objective:
Recognize and celebrate innovative deployments of OpenRoaming technology that enhance seamless connectivity, security, and user experience across different Wi-Fi networks, enabling a more interconnected and user-friendly wireless ecosystem.
Eligible deployments must be a live network in trial or commercial operation in at least one country or market by the entry deadline.

Who is eligible:

• Network Operators: Companies deploying OpenRoaming solutions across their public or private Wi-Fi networks.
• Technology Companies: Organizations developing or supporting OpenRoaming authentication, security, and interoperability technologies.
• Enterprises & Venues: Airports, stadiums, hospitality, universities, retail spaces, and other organizations implementing OpenRoaming to improve customer and employee connectivity.
• Government & Municipalities: Cities and public sector institutions using OpenRoaming to provide seamless and secure public Wi-Fi access.

Judging Criteria:

• Technical Innovation: Implementation of OpenRoaming technology to enable seamless, secure, and automatic network transitions.
• Business Innovation: Novel monetization strategies or partnerships that leverage OpenRoaming. Expansion of Wi-Fi accessibility in new environments through OpenRoaming adoption.
• User Experience Enhancement: Seamless onboarding without the need for manual authentication. Improvements in security, privacy, and convenience for users.
• Scale of Market Impact: Number of users benefiting from OpenRoaming implementation. Deployment across large venues, multiple locations, or international markets.