- Fierce Network is accepting submissions for the 2026 Innovation Awards through October 2
- The program expands to 24 categories, including 14 new awards focused on AI, automation, cloud infrastructure and network innovation
- Winners will be recognized live at Broadband Nation Expo in New Orleans on November 19, marking the first in-person awards ceremony
Fierce Network has officially opened submissions for the 2026 Fierce Network Innovation Awards, launching the most significant expansion in the program's more than 15-year history. The awards recognize the technologies, companies and industry leaders driving advances across wireless, broadband, cloud and digital infrastructure.
This year's program features 24 award categories, including 14 new additions designed to reflect ongoing changes in the telecommunications industry. New categories focus on areas such as AI in live telecom networks, AI-driven customer experience, AI-RAN, autonomous network operations, telecom cloud and edge infrastructure, data center and AI infrastructure, network APIs, industrial IoT and energy-efficient network design.
The 2026 awards feature 24 categories, including 14 new categories:
- Access Network Innovation (Wireline & FWA)
- NEW: AI in Live Telecom Networks
- NEW: AI-Driven Customer Experience
- NEW: AI-RAN Innovation
- NEW: Autonomous Network Operations
- NEW: Broadband Build of the Year
- BSS/OSS Platform Innovation
- NEW: Data Center & AI Infrastructure Innovation
- Digital Inclusion & Affordability Impact
- NEW: Energy-Efficient Network Design
- Fiber and Wireline Deployment Innovation
- NEW: Industrial IoT & Connected Infrastructure
- NEW: Network APIs & Programmable Networks
- Network Security Innovation
- Network Testing, Assurance & Observability
- Private & Enterprise Wireless Innovation
- NEW: Revenue Enablement Beyond Connectivity
- NEW: Telecom Cloud & Edge Infrastructure
- Tribal & Indigenous Connectivity Leadership
- Wireless Network Innovation (Core & RAN)
- 2026 Carrier of the Year
- NEW: 2026 Innovation of the Year
- NEW: 2026 Innovator of the Year
- NEW: 2026 Operator-Vendor Partnership of the Year
Awards announced at Broadband Nation Expo
For the first time, winners will be honored during a live awards ceremony at Broadband Nation Expo in New Orleans on Nov. 19. The event will bring together operators, service providers, technology vendors and other industry stakeholders to celebrate achievements across the connectivity ecosystem.
Entries will be accepted through Oct. 2, with finalists scheduled to be announced on Oct. 26.
The awards showcase real-world deployments, operational outcomes and demonstrated customer value rather than purely theoretical innovation. Judges will evaluate submissions based on their impact on network operations, business performance and the broader communications industry.
For more information about the Fierce Network Innovation Awards and how to submit, visit https://awards.fierce-network.com/.
For partnership opportunities, contact Scott Gruntorad at [email protected].