The Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards 2024 at MWC Barcelona

The prestigious Global Mobile Awards — known as the GLOMOs — are back for their 29th edition at MWC Barcelona for 2024.

The 30 awards over six categories are being judged by over 200 independent judges working to honour the best of the best within our ecosystem and beyond.

MWC Barcelona 2024 is once again shaping up to be the place to connect with the world’s most influential leaders and thinkers, catch up on the latest digital trends, discover the game-changing power of mobile technology and access world-class content. Hosted by the GSMA at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona from 26th to 29th February 2024, registration is open.

We’ve put together a list of the award categories ahead of the event, and broken down the short lists and 2023 winners!

Mobile Tech

Networks and technology are at the epicentre of mobile innovation and this category recognises the companies that are revolutionising the capabilities and reach of mobile and digital technology. The awards in this category are: 

CTO Choice: Outstanding Mobile Technology Award. Entries are not required for this award, as the panel of more than 20 leading CTOs select the overall technology winner from the seven best ‘Mobile Tech’ in 2023 award winners. The 2023 winner was EdgeQ’s 5G + AI Base Station on a Chip

Best Mobile Network Infrastructure. The shortlist consists of:

• Huawei for Green Antenna Series, Energy-Saving & Simplified Deployment
• Huawei for GigaGreen Radio
• Huawei for LampSite X, ultra-high-performance indoor wireless
• Vodafone and Samsung Networks for Europe’s Largest Open RAN rollout in the U.K.
• ZTE for industry first 5G-in-train Metro
• ZTE for UBR Series for Mast- & Energy-efficient Infrastructure

The 2023 winner was Huawei for MetaAAU Series: Performance & Energy Efficiency Boosting.

Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough. The shortlist consists of:

• Huawei for "0 Bit 0 Watt" Solution
• Huawei for CloudBeam Solution Realize User-Centric Network
• Huawei for iBeam Intelligent Air Interface Solution Realizing No-Edge mmWave Network
• Qualcomm for Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System
• ZTE for Dynamic RIS (D-RIS) 2.0
• ZTE for Native-AI RAN, Enabling Capacity Boost and Energy Reduction

The 2023 Winner was Huawei for FDD Beamforming Radio System, Double Spectrum & Energy Efficiency.

Best Network Software Breakthrough. The shortlist consists of:

• AIS and Huawei for Living Network Service Powered by Autonomous Networks
• BroadForward for BroadForward Cloud IoT Connectivity Solution
• China Mobile Fujian and ZTE for uSmartNet with digital twin driven closed-loop automation
• China Mobile Research Institute and ZTE for 5G RAN Digital Twin as a Service
• China Unicom and Huawei jointly innovate Intelligent O&M Robots to boost Autonomous Network Transformation
• Huawei for RAN Digital Twin System Enables RAN Intelligence

The 2023 Winner was Rakuten Symphony for Symworld with Juniper RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)

Best Digital Tech Breakthrough for companies with under US$10m Annual Global Revenue. The shortlist consists of:

• 1oT for 1oT eSIM Core
• Cirrus360 for RAN Domain Specific Language Driven Intelligent Automation: Gabriel™
• Shabodi Corp for Application Enablement Platform (AEP)
• Sonoc for innovative flash calling detection and monetisation
• Summa Networks RedCap “All G’s” Core for IoT
• Summa Networks VoWiFiInabox

The 2023 Winner was EdgeQ’s 5G + AI Base Station on a Chip.

Best Mobile Security Solution. The shortlist consists of:

• BT Group, Juniper Networks, KETS, and Arqit for Quantum-safe VPNs with Crypto Agility
• Athonet, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Acquisition for The First Quantum-Secure 5G
• Hiya's Adaptive AI
• Nokia for NetGuard Cybersecurity Dome
• SK Telecom and SAPEON for AI-Powered Anti-Phishing System (APS)
• Vox Solutions for VOX360

The 2023 Winner was IDEMIA for eXtraOne 5G SIM

GSMA Foundry Innovation Award​. The shortlist consists of:

• Ericsson for Project "UAV Commercial Network Field Test"
• Sony for NTN using Murata's 1SC module and Skylo's network
• Unmanned Life, Liberty Global, and Amazon Web Services for Drone Orchestration with 5G and Edge Compute in the Port of Antwerp
• Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation (WISCO), China Unicom, and ZTE for 5G fully connected smart steel factory
• ZTE for RAN Composer, reallocating radio capacity in real-time

This is a new award for 2024. 

Best Cloud Solution. The shortlist consists of:

• Mavenir’s Webscale Platform enabling Cloud-Native, Automated Networks
• Orange for Sylva Open-source project (Linux Foundation Europe)
• Rakuten Symphony Symcloud with Dell Validated Design for Analytics
• SK Telecom for Cloud Radar (Telco’s AI-Powered Cloud Business Platform for Telcos & Enterprises)
• Turkcell & Odine for Telco Cloud Project
• ZTE for Novel AI Assistant of Network Autonomous on Public Cloud

The 2023 Winner was Rakuten Symphony for Symworld Cloud

Best Non-Terrestrial Network Solution. The shortlist consists of:

• Dual-satellite communication on the HUAWEI Mate 60 Pro+
• EchoStar Mobile for Maxxive IoT
• Lockheed Martin for Lockheed Martin Advanced Regenerative 5G NTN NR Satellite Base Station
• Lynk for Sat2Phone (Cell Towers in Space)
• SATELIOT
• Skylo Technologies

This is a new award for 2024. 

Best Private Network Solution. The shortlist consists of:

• China Mobile, Wuhan Metro Group & Huawei for "5G Metro Private Network Makes Wuhan a Smart Transportation City"
• China Unicom, State Grid, Huawei and TD Tech for Inclusive 5G Smart Grid Solution to Build the World's Largest New Power Supply System
• HKT and Kwong Wah Hospital for the First Smart Hospital with a 5G Private Network in Hong Kong
• Midea Group, China Unicom and ZTE for Deterministic 5G Private Network
• ZTE for Private 5G Networks for Critical Industrial Processes

This is a new award for 2024. 

Digital Everything

This category recognises the brands that are winning in creating services that are at the forefront of this digital shift. Awards in this category are:

Best Mobile Operator Service for Connected Consumers. The shortlist consists of:

• China Mobile and Huawei for 5G Core IPE (Intelligent Personalized Experience) Solution Helping Consumers Improve Service Experience
• China Mobile for Cloud Phone, One Iconic 5G Application That Empowers Inclusive Computing
• China Unicom Guangdong for the World's First 5G Livestreaming Service
• Ethio Telecom and Huawei for Telebirr: Waking Up The Mobile Money Giant Market
• KDDI and Samsung Networks for 5G SA Network Slicing

The 2023 Winner was VEON: DO1440

Best Mobile Innovation for Connected Economy. The shortlist consists of:

• Chang'an Automobile, China Unicom and Huawei for Chang'an Automobile Yubei 5G Green Smart Factory
• China Mobile, Huawei, and Neolix for 5.5G Enabling Large-Scale Commercial Use of L4 Unmanned Vehicles
• China Unicom Guangdong, Huawei, and TD Tech for 5G RedCap Digital Manufacturing
• China Unicom, State Grid, Huawei and TD Tech for 30,000-Sites 5G Deterministic Network Slicing to Build the World's Largest Smart Grid
• Wuhan Iron and Steel Corporation (WISCO), China Unicom, and ZTE for their 5G fully connected smart steel factory

The 2023 Winner was Guangzhou Metro, China Mobile and ZTE for 5G-empowered Smart Metro in Guangzhou

Best Mobile Innovation for Connected Health and Wellbeing. The shortlist consists of:

• Authena for end-to-end healthcare visibility
• China Mobile and ZTE for Smart Healthcare to assist the elderly living independently
• Hyodol for AI Elderly Care Platform
• Mediwave Pte. Ltd. for Project - Emergency Response Management System (ERMS)
• Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, China Unicom, CITC and Huawei for 5G Smart Ward System

The 2023 Winner was Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, China Unicom, CITC, and Huawei for 5G Mobile Stroke Unit - Maintaining Brain Health

Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life. The shortlist consists of:

• China Mobile for Cloud Phone, One Iconic Application of Computing-5G Network Convergence
• KMB, SmarTone and Comba Telecom for Innovative Smart Transport Service Enabled by 5G and AI Technologies
• Kyiv Municipality for Kyiv Digital Life-Saving App
• Samsung Electronics for Samsung Health
• Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority for UAE Pass

The 2023 Winner was Metro Pacific Health Tech for mWell

Best Mobile Innovation for Cities. The shortlist consists of:

• China Unicom and Huawei for 5G Shore-based Integrated Tailwater Treatment Project
• Hangzhou Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, China Telecom and ZTE for Hangzhou 5G-A Smart Asian Games City
• KT for KT Robot Platform (KT Robot Makers)
• Kyiv Municipality for Kyiv Digital Project
• Suzhou Municipal Government, Tianyijiaotong Technology Ltd., China Telecom and ZTE for 5G Smart City Transportation

The 2023 Winner was SK Telecom for Location Intelligent Solution ‘LITMUS’

Best AI Innovation. The shortlist consists of:​

• Authena AI: Transforming Global Supply Chains with Pioneering AI-Integrated Monitoring
• China Mobile Zhejiang and Huawei for Generative AI Powered Smart Cockpit of Digital Operations
• China Unicom and Huawei for China Unicom Smart Contact Center – 10010, the world’s leading generative AI-powered call center
• Pangu-Weather: the first AI weather forecasting model to outperform conventional NWP methods
• Qualcomm Technologies for Qualcomm AI Engine

This is a new award for 2024.

Open Gateway Challenge. The shortlist consists of:​

• Axiata Digital Labs for Dialog Axiata and XL Axiata MetaStage
• Colony Networks for Failover Quality on Demand
• Comviva Application Driven Network Platform (ADRIN)
• Infobip ltd for Anti-Fraud Intelligence

This is a new award for 2024.

Device

This category celebrates the achievements in hardware developments that are stimulating advancements in the mobile sector. The awards in this category are:

Best Smartphone. The shortlist consists of:​

• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Devices
• Google Pixel 8 series
• OnePlus Open/OPPO Find N3
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Devices
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

The 2023 Winner was Apple iPhone 14 Pro.

Breakthrough Device Innovation. The shortlist consists of:​

• Google for AI imaging capability
• Google for commitment to extended Pixel software updates
• Honor Magic V2 for its silicon-carbon dual battery technology
• OnePlus Open/OPPO Find N3 for OPPO ColorOS 13.2 Canvas Shift/OnePlus - OxygenOS 13.2 Open Canvas for multitasking on foldables
• Qualcomm for Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The 2023 Winner was Apple - Emergency SOS via Satellite

Best Connected Consumer Device. The shortlist consists of:​

• Bullitt Satellite for motorola defy satellite link
• HTC VIVE for VIVE XR Elite - powerful and versatile XR
• HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Series - Professional Sports and Health Technology Innovation Project
• RayNeo for Air 2 XR Glasses
• Samsung for Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

The 2023 Winner was TCL Mobile for NXTWEAR S

Best in Show. This award does not require submission, as the winner will be picked from launches of products or devices in the lead up to, and during MWC 2024. The award will be presented directly at the stand of the winning organisation and will take place separately to the main GLOMO award ceremony.

The 2023 Winner was motorola defy satellite link made by Bullitt

Tech4Good

The GSMA is committed to connecting everyone and everything to a #BetterFuture. This category applauds the companies who work tirelessly to ensure that no one gets left behind in the journey to true connectivity. The awards in this category are: 

Best Mobile Innovation for Emerging Markets. The shortlist consists of:

• bKash for Bangladesh’s Human ATM, Emerging Market's Financial Inclusion
• China Unicom Inner Mongolia, Huawei for Simplified rural networks for the benefit of all
• Huawei & Ufone for Microwave SuperHub Solution
• Nokia Rural Connect Solution, E2E Modular, energy efficient and re-deployable solution for Connectivity in Rural & Emerging Markets
• PT Telkomsel and ZTE Corporation for MobileMarine: Catalyzing Fishing Economy in Emerging Markets

The 2023 Winner was Huawei for RuralLink–Green, Simplified, and Evolvable Solution for Rural Connectivity

Best Mobile Innovation supporting Emergency or Humanitarian Situations. The shortlist consists of:

• Hong Kong Police Force for Smart Rescue Solution
• Kyiv municipality for Information and Analytical Situation Center (C2 Center)
• Kyivstar for Network Resilience Project
• Nokia for World’s first nationwide drone network for Belgium’s emergency services
• Vodafone Ukraine for Project Network Resilience Despite Blackouts
• ZTE for their Unmanned Helicopter Wireless Station for Emergency Connectivity

The 2023 Winner was lifecell for Project Operator's Work Under Fire

Best Use of Mobile for Accessibility & Inclusion. The shortlist consists of:

• China Mobile, China Mobile Jiangsu Branch, Vivo and Huawei for New Calling Solution Connecting the Hearing Impaired & the Elderly
• China Unicom & China Unicom Digital Technology & Huawei & Guizhou CREC Sunvally for Guizhou Sun Valley 5G Smart Care Community
• Samsung Electronics for Galaxy Buds2 Pro
• SK Telecom and Tuat for AI-based Visual Assistance Voice Guidance Service ‘Sullivan Finder’
• Smart Communications, Inc. for IDEATe (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy through Technology)

The 2023 Winner was SK Telecom, LBStech and SAPEON Korea for ‘G-EYE PLUS Powered by SKT’s Visual Localization and Mapping Technology (VLAM)’

Best Mobile Innovation for Climate Action

• China Unicom for Personal Green Behaviour Mobile Application "Unicom Low-Carbon Life"
• Fairphone for Fairphone 5
• MTN for Project Infinity
• Wiliot Ambient IoT Visibility Platform
• Zain KSA, Huawei and Red Sea Global for Red Sea Zero-Carbon 5G Network

The 2023 Winner was The Wiliot IoT Platform for Supply Chain Sustainability

Outstanding Mobile Contribution to the UN SDGs

• Fairphone for Fairphone 5
• Huawei & BJFF for Intelligent AI-based Fish Filtering System to Prevent the Extinction of Atlantic Salmon
• Internet para todos for Connecting the unconnected Program
• Precision Animal Solutions’ Remote Early Disease Identification (REDI) Solution Powered by Eseye
• Sanjiangyuan National Park, China Mobile, and ZTE for 5G-powered Tibetan antelope and biodiversity protection

The 2023 Winner was Telefónica for ProFuturo Programme

Best Mobile Innovation for Enhancing The Lives of Children and Young People

• Grameenphone Digital Book Fair
• Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad for SMART Project: Sowing Seeds of Connectivity for Inclusive and Sustainable Rural Growth
• TCL for NXTPAPER Technology
• Unleashing Potential through GoLearning's Innovative Educational Platform for Kids & Youth
• Zoë-Life Innovative Solutions for KidzAlive Talk Tool App

This is a new award for 2024. 

Government Leadership Award

The only award in this category is the Government Excellence Award is presented to governments who have fostered the true spirit of digitalisation in their national agenda, and pushed the boundaries of innovation. This award is not open for submission and will be chosen by a panel of experts. The winner will be announced at Ministerial Programme 2024. The 2023 Winner was the Government of India.

Outstanding Achievement

This category celebrates the individuals and companies from across the tech sector who commit their passion and resources to doing the right thing, and building a better future for all of us. The two awards available in this category are not open for entry, but instead are chosen by the GSMA alone. They are Outstanding Contribution to the Mobile Industry — Chairman’s Award — and Diversity in Tech Award. 

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