The WBA Industry Awards Categories for 2024

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
• Business innovation
• User experience enhancement
• Scale of market impact

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
• Business innovation
• User experience enhancement
• Scale of market impact

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
• Business innovation
• User experience enhancement
• Scale of market impact

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
• Business innovation
• User experience enhancement
• Scale of market impact

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
• Business innovation
• User experience enhancement
• Scale of market impact

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
• Business innovation
• User experience enhancement
• Scale of market impact

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
• Business innovation
• User experience enhancement
• Scale of market impact

This award is outside of the other categories of the WBA Annual Industry Awards. To be eligible to enter, the candidate must be a member of the WBA CTO Group.

Eligibility: The award is open to all members of the WBA CTO Group.

Objective:

• • • CTO of The Year Award is an unparalleled recognition of the visionary minds driving the future of wireless connectivity.
    • Recognizing Trailblazers: This award is designed to honor the brightest minds who have pushed the boundaries of Wi-Fi technology, transforming the way we connect, communicate, and collaborate. It’s a platform to acknowledge the CTOs who have revolutionized industries, driven groundbreaking advancements, and paved the way for a more connected world.
    • Global Impact: The WBA CTO of The Year Award is not just about local accomplishments; it’s a global stage that highlights the impact of Wi-Fi innovation worldwide. Whether it’s enabling smart cities, powering IoT ecosystems, or enhancing remote work experiences, these leaders have played a vital role in shaping the digital landscape.
    • Excellence Rewarded: The WBA CTO of The Year Award is a celebration of excellence, expertise, and dedication. It’s a unique opportunity to witness the unveiling of the next luminary in the Wi-Fi industry and celebrate their accomplishments alongside the who’s who of the tech world.

Eligibility:
The award is open to all members of the WBA CTO Group.

Voting Process:
The CTO of the Year Award will be judged by Members of the WBA Chief Technology Officer’s Work Group (CTOG), made up of senior executives from a wide range of technology companies globally. A peer review of the work and excellence in the world of Wi-Fi.
In the event that there is only one nominee, there will be no formal voting process, and the WBA will publicly announce the award winner at the coming Wireless Global Congress.
Nominations are self-submitted with the online submission form below.