Hong Kong, April 09, 2010 – The Axiata Group, Singapore Telecom and the Softbank Group dominate the list of finalists in this year’s Telecom Asia Awards, Telecom Asia magazine announced today.
The magazine unveiled its shortlist of nominees in 11 categories, from mobile to managed services to disruptive technology, ahead of the presentation of the 13th Telecom Asia Awards on April 20.
Axiata and its subsidiaries collected five nominations, SingTel was shortlisted four times and Softbank three in the awards, Asia’s most prestigious telecom industry honors.
Axiata won nominations in Best Regional Mobile Group and for CEO Jamaludin Ibrahim in the Best CEO category, while Celcom Axiata, its Malaysian wireless arm, and Indonesian cellco XL picked up another two each.
SingTel is a finalist in the Best Carrier category and Best Managed Services Provider as well as the new categories of Best Regional Mobile Group and Best Content Strategy.
Softbank Mobile is on the shortlist for Best Carrier and Best Mobile, while its parent Softbank Corp. is a contender in another new category, Best Converged Services.
The Best Carrier Award is a battle between Indian mobile leader Bharti Airtel, the aggressive Hong Kong Broadband (HKBN), Malaysian tycoon Ananda Krishnan’s Maxis Communications, incumbent Singapore Telecom and fast-growing Japanese cellco Softbank Mobile.
Joseph Waring, Group Editor of Telecom Asia, said the awards this year put a heavy emphasis on innovation.
“The telecom services business is tough in all markets, advanced and developing. Organic growth opportunities are limited and investors and customers alike are crying out for innovation in products, strategy and execution,” he said.
The awards are based on nominations and votes from a judging panel made up of financial and industry analysts, editors and industry professionals.
Last year’s awards, Orange Business Services claimed the Best Carrier trophy while StarHub CEO Terry Clontz won the Best CEO award.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Capella Resort, Sentosa Island, Singapore, on April 20.
About Telecom Asia
Telecom Asia is Asia's largest regional telecom publishing group. It publishes the magazines Telecom Asia and the web site www.telecomasia.net, serving telecommunications professionals around the region.
Further information:
Robert Clark
Telecom Asia
+852 91839415
rclark@electricspeech.com
Telecom Asia Awards 2010 Finalists
Best Telecom Carrier
Bharti Airtel (India)
Hong Kong Broadband (Hong Kong)
Maxis Communications (Malaysia)
Singapore Telecom (Singapore)
Softbank Mobile (Japan)
Telecom CEO of the Year
Jamaludin Ibrahim, Axiata (Malaysia)
Ananda Krishnan, Maxis (Malaysia)
Hasnul Suhaimi, XL Axiata (Indonesia)
Ricky Wong, CTI/HKBN (Hong Kong)
Best Mobile Carrier
Celcom Axiata (Malaysia)
CSL (Hong Kong)
Globe Telecom (Philippines)
Softbank Mobile (Japan)
Telkomsel (Indonesia)
Best Fixed-Line & Broadband Carrier
HKBN (Hong Kong)
Chunghwa (Taiwan)
StarHub (Singapore)
Best Emerging Market Carrier
Globe Telecom (Philippines)
Grameenphone (Bangladesh)
Tata DoCoMo (India)
XL Axiata (Indonesia)
Best Regional Mobile Group
Axiata (Malaysia)
Singapore Telecom (Singapore)
Telenor (Norway)
Best Converged Services
Chunghwa Telecom (Taiwan)
PCCW (Hong Kong)
SK Telecom (Korea)
Softbank (Japan)
Best Content Strategy
KT (Korea)
PCCW (Hong Kong)
Singapore Telecom (Singapore)
Best Managed Services Provider
BT Asia-Pacific (UK)
Orange Business Services (France)
Pacnet (Hong Kong)
Singapore Telecom (Singapore)
Best Wholesale Carrier
Hutchison Global Communications (Hong Kong)
Pacnet (Hong Kong)
Tata Communications (India)
TTK (Russia)
Most Disruptive Technology
iPhone
Android
Cloud services
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