Leading Lights 2022: The Winners
The 2022 Leading Lights Awards winners have been announced via our special video presentation connecting six Light Reading editors in the US and UK. In case you missed it, here's the video presentation:
The Leading Lights is Light Reading's flagship awards program, returning for its 18th year to recognize the industry's top companies and their executives for outstanding achievements in next-generation communications technology, applications, services, strategies and innovation.
The judging process is never easy, with so many good entries and competition in this ever-evolving industry. We'd like to thank our panel of judges for the 2022 Leading Lights. Our judges included Dell'Oro Group's Jeff Heynen; Tantra Analyst's Prakash Sangam; our Informa colleagues James Crawshaw, Roz Roseboro, Pablo Tomasi and Jaimie Lenderman; Rosenblatt Securities' Mike Genovese; Vertical Systems Group's Erin Dunne and our Heavy Reading colleagues Sterling Perrin, Jim Hodges, Jennifer Clark and Gabriel Brown.
There's no commentary about any specific companies in this post. But our editors have had plenty to say about the Leading Lights process, the entries, the trends, and more.
Check out our Leading Lights-related podcasts in Light Reading's "What's the Story?" podcast series:
- What's the Story? How to enter the Leading Lights Awards
- What's the Story? Edge computing ain't easy
- What's the Story? Leading Lights entries double down on cloud native
- What's the Story? Fixed wireless swamps Leading Lights Awards
- What's the Story? Leading Lights finalist trends in streaming video and broadband
Our list of finalists follows, along with the Leading Lights winner and the Editor's Choice winner, if awarded:
Best New Video/Media Product or Service
Awarded to the company that has launched the most innovative streaming video or other media product or service during the past year.
The Finalists
- 24i 24iQ
- MediaKind MediaKind Engage
- Comcast Technology Solutions VideoAI
- Sportsnet (Rogers Sports & Media) and Quickplay SN NOW
- Vonage Interactive Broadcast with Experience Composer
- Spectrum Enterprise Spectrum Enterprise TV Streaming Access
The Winner
Comcast Technology Solutions VideoAI
Company of the Year (Private)
Awarded to the privately held firm that stands out from its competitors, innovates constantly, makes investors proud and makes employees happy.
The Finalists
- Celona
- CUJO AI
- EFFECT Photonics
- Transaction Network Services
- Segra
- DriveNets
- Cohere
- Colt Technology Services
- Arrcus
- Vapor IO
The Winner
DriveNets
Editor's Choice
CUJO AI
Company of the Year (Public)
Awarded to the publicly listed firm that stands out from its competitors, innovates constantly, makes investors proud and makes employees happy.
The Finalists
- Ciena
- A10 Networks
- CSG
- Clearfield Inc.
- Amdocs
- Ooredoo Group
- Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison
- Calix
- Comcast Business
The Winner
Calix
Outstanding Digital Enablement Vendor
Awarded to the next-generation OSS/BSS/CX, analytics or digital commerce systems vendor that stands out from its competitors, innovates constantly and helps set industry trends.
The Finalists
- LotusFlare
- Lifecycle Software
- EnterpriseWeb
- Nokia
- Netcracker
- ZIRA
- MATRIXX Software
- Spectrum Enterprise
- Connectbase
The Winner
EnterpriseWeb
Outstanding Test & Measurement Vendor
Awarded to the communications networking test and measurement, monitoring or assurance systems vendor that stands out from its competitors, innovates constantly and helps set the industry trends.
The Finalists
- Tektronix
- Juniper Networks
- Mobileum
- Infovista
- Incognito Software Systems
- Triveni Digital
- Selector
- Xena Networks
- Accedian
- Viavi Solutions
- Menlo Micro
- LitePoint
The Winner
Infovista
Editor's Choice
Incognito Software Systems
Outstanding Use Case: Customer Experience
Awarded to the company that used its communications technology or network to deliver a superior customer experience.
- Qwilt
- Orange
- Minim Inc.
- Spectrum Enterprise
- Plume
- DZS
- GTT
- Fujitsu Network Communications and HFR Networks
- China Telecom (Americas) Corporation
- Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison
The Winner
DZS
Editor's Choice
Fujitsu Network Communications and HFR Networks
Outstanding Use Case: Edge Computing
Awarded to the company that can articulate a compelling example of how it delivered edge computing solutions either network- or customer-facing.
The Finalists
- EnterpriseWeb
- ZTE
- American Tower
- Vapor IO
The Winner
ZTE
Editor's Choice
Vapor IO
Outstanding Use Case: Private Wireless Networks
Awarded to the company that can share the most compelling example of building and/or operating a private wireless network on behalf of a corporate or municipal customer.
The Finalists
- Anterix
- Comba Telecom Network Systems Limited
- Betacom
- Boingo Wireless
- Federated Wireless
- ExteNet Systems
- Expeto
The Winner
Anterix
Outstanding Use Case: Service Provider AI
Awarded to the company that is innovatively using artificial intelligence to improve network performance, customer service or business operations.
The Finalists
- RADCOM
- Juniper Networks
- ZTE Corp
- Comviva
- Microsoft
- Vitria
- Amdocs
- NEC
- Nokia
- Cox Edge
- Plume
The Winner
Comviva
Editor's Choice
Microsoft
Outstanding Use Case: Innovative IoT
Awarded to the service provider or vendor helping change businesses and improve customer experiences with innovative Internet of Things devices and services.
- MachineQ for Asset Management
- SAM Seamless Network
- Ooma AirDial
- Flashnet and 1NCE Light Up Washington, DC
- Telia Global IoT Connectivity
- Morse Micro Wi-Fi HaLow
The Winner
Flashnet and 1NCE Light Up Washington, DC
Outstanding Use Case: Service Provider Cybersecurity
Awarded for a compelling example of a network operator or other service provider delivering exceptional security products or services.
The Finalists
- BT and Toshiba Quantum secured metro network
- CUJO AI and Comcast CUJO AI On-The-Move
- SecurityGen and STC Saudi Arabia for SecurityGen ACE
- Hughes Network Systems
- SK Telecom Quantum cryptography service
- GTT Communications Cloud-based cybersecurity services
- Comcast Business Secure network solutions
The Winner
BT and Toshiba Quantum secured metro network
Outstanding Use Case: SD-WAN
Awarded to the service provider or vendor that can articulate a compelling example where they helped to provide an exceptional SD-WAN service to a customer.
The Finalists
- VMware
- GTT Communications
- MetTel
- Hughes Network Systems
- Fortinet
The Winner
Hughes Network Systems
Outstanding Systems Integrator
Awarded to the vendor helping communications service providers modernize and manage their networks and businesses with innovative IT solutions.
The Finalists
- NEC
- Amdocs
- World Wide Technology (WWT)
The Winner
Amdocs
5G Service Provider of the Year
Awarded to the network operator or other 5G service provider that had the best year ever.
The Finalists
- SK Telecom
- Rakuten Mobile with Rakuten Symphony
The Winner
SK Telecom
5G Technology Vendor of the Year
Awarded to the 5G technology vendor or software provider that is a standout example of excellence.
The Finalists
- Amdocs
- Mavenir
- AMD and Xilinx
- World Wide Technology
- Netcracker
- Rakuten Symphony
- Wind River
The Winner
Wind River
Most Innovative Cloud Product or Service
Awarded to the service provider, cloud provider or vendor that has launched the most innovative cloud-native, communications-focused product or service during the past year.
The Finalists
- Nokia Cloud Native Communication Suite
- Mavenir Mavenir Telco Cloud Strategy
- Juniper Networks Mist WAN Assurance
- Rakuten Symphony Symworld Cloud (formerly Robin.io)
- VMware VMware Telco Cloud Automation
- Amdocs Amdocs Digital Brands SaaS Suite
- F5 Inc. BIG-IP Next Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNF)
- DZS DZS Cloud
- Qualcomm Technologies Inc.
- Fortinet FortiCNP
- Arrcus Flexible Multi-Cloud Networking (FlexMCN)
The Winner
Mavenir Mavenir Telco Cloud Strategy
Editor's Choice
Rakuten Symphony Symworld Cloud (formerly Robin.io)
Most Innovative Open RAN Product or Solution
Awarded to the vendor that has launched the most innovative open RAN product or solution during the past year.
The Finalists
- VMware
- AccelerComm
- Picocom
- Qualcomm Technologies Inc.
- JMA Wireless
- NEC
The Winner
JMA Wireless
Editor's Choice
NEC
Most Innovative Routing and Switching Solution
Awarded to the vendor that has launched the most innovative hardware- or software-based routing and switching solution for network operators.
The Finalists
- Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco Routed Optical Networking
- Juniper Networks Cloud Metro Solution
- Kyrio Adaptive Route Control (ARC)
- DriveNets DriveNets Network Cloud
- Titan.ium Platform LLC TITAN.IUM 5G Signaling Core
- Arrcus ACE Platform
The Winner
Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco Routed Optical Networking
Editor's Choice
Juniper Networks Cloud Metro Solution
Most Innovative Service Provider Transport Solution
Awarded to the optical systems vendor or optical components vendor providing the most innovative optical transport solution for service provider customers.
The Finalists
- Ciena
- ZTE
- Colt Technology Services and Ciena
- DZS
- Marvell
The Winner
Marvell
Editor's Choice
Ciena
Light Reading MVPs
Awarded to the communications industry individuals, at any corporate level, who made an unmistakable difference in their company, community, culture or all three.
The Finalists
- Gary Bolton, President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
- John Baker, Senior Vice President of Ecosystem Business Development, Mavenir
- Tonya Stopke, SVP, Global Service Provider, World Wide Technology
- Joe Madden, Chief Analyst, Mobile Experts
- John Mezzalingua, CEO, JMA Wireless
- Ganesh Shenbagaraman, Head of Integrated Products and Ecosystems, Radisys
The Winners
Gary Bolton, President and CEO, Fiber Broadband Association
Joe Madden, Chief Analyst, Mobile Experts
Outstanding Use Case: Broadband Deployment
Awarded to the company that has delivered an exceptional high-speed broadband access experience in the past year via fixed wireless, satellite, fiber or cable.
The Finalists
- IP Infusion
- Tarana Wireless
- Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative
- Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Project Taara at X, Alphabet's moonshot factory
- Mediacom Communications and Casa Systems
- Cox Communications
The Winner
Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Project Taara at X, Alphabet's moonshot factory
Most Innovative Home Networking Solution
Awarded to the vendor or service provider that has launched the most innovative home networking devices or platforms in the past year.
The Finalists
- Radisys
- Incognito Software Systems Inc.
- MaxLinear
- Fortinet
- Plume
The Winner
MaxLinear
Most Innovative Broadband Access Solution
Awarded to the company that has launched the most innovative product or service to deliver high-speed broadband access via fixed wireless, satellite, fiber or cable.
The Finalists
- CommScope Prodigy Hardened Connectivity Solution
- Tarana Wireless Tarana G1 Next-Generation Fixed Wireless Access Platform
- DZS DZS XCelerate
- TIP OpenWiFi TIP OpenWiFi
- Incognito Software Systems Inc. Broadband Command Center
- Harmonic Harmonic's MAC Anywhere FMA Offering
- Qualcomm Technologies Inc. Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 2
- Calix Broadband Performance Testing Solution
The Winner
Tarana Wireless Tarana G1 Next-Generation Fixed Wireless Access Platform
Best Public-Private Partnership
Awarded to the organizations working together to expand broadband access and help narrow the digital divide for municipalities and community institutions, including school districts, nonprofits and other public sector organizations.
The Finalists
- Fiber Broadband Association
- Neos Networks
- Consolidated Communications
- Kajeet inc.
- STL (Sterlite Technologies Ltd)
- FiberLight
- Hughes Network Systems
- GTT Communications
The Winner
FiberLight
Editor's Choice
Fiber Broadband Association
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners for your hard work and thank you to everyone who submitted an entry.
The Editors, Light Reading
