Leading Lights winners, and Light Reading Hall of Fame inductees, will be announced at an Awards Dinner at Hudson Terrace in New York City on Tuesday, Nov. 8, following the first day of Ethernet Expo Americas 2011. (See LR's Leading Lights Deadline Extended). Below, please find each category for these awards. Click on the category name to get the finalists for each section (free registration required). Once you're logged in, feel free to comment on the message boards below.
Coming up next week: Our editors will be sharing their commentary and insights on the finalists chosen via their individual blogs.
And now, the categories for Light Reading's 2010 Leading Lights Awards:
Best New Product (Cable)
Awarded to the company that has developed a potentially market-leading product that, through engineering and technical excellence, enables the deployment of profitable next-generation cable services.
Best New Product (Mobile)
Awarded to the company that has developed a potentially market-leading product that, through engineering and technical excellence, enables the deployment of profitable next-generation mobile services.
Best New Product (Telecom)
Awarded to the company that has developed a potentially market-leading product that, through engineering and technical excellence, enables the deployment of profitable next-generation telecom services.
Best New Service or Application (Cable)
Awarded to the company that has deployed a potentially market-leading, revenue-generating service or application that enhances the use of next-generation communications technology in the cable network.
Best New Service or Application (Mobile)
Awarded to the company that has deployed a potentially market-leading, revenue-generating service or application that enhances the use of next-generation communications technology in the mobile network.
Best New Service or Application (Telecom)
Awarded to the company that has deployed a potentially market-leading, revenue-generating service or application that enhances the use of next-generation communications technology in the wireline network.
Company of the Year (Private)
Awarded to the privately held firm that stands out among its competitors, innovates constantly, makes investors proud and makes employees happy.
Company of the Year (Public)
Awarded to the publicly listed firm that stands out among its competitors, innovates constantly, makes investors proud and makes employees happy.
Best Deal Maker
Awarded to the company that has consistently demonstrated good timing, judgment and execution in high-profile acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and other multi-company financial arrangements.
There isn't a shortlist for the Light Reading Hall of Fame, which seeks to recognize several individuals -- the famous and infamous -- for their remarkable contributions to the sector. The inductees will be named (and some of them shamed) at the Awards Dinner, once everyone has had a few cocktails.
— The Editors, Light Reading
It certainly sems like that's where things are headed. And as all the budget-minded carriers (MetroPCS, Cricket) are expanding to cover more cities, those could be targets as well.