Hong Kong, March 6, 2013 – Telecom Asia today announced the finalists in its 16th Telecom Asia Awards, with 24 judges nominating their top choices in 13 categories. Three new categories were added this year: Most Innovative Partnership Strategy, Most Advanced Approach to CEM and Best Data Center Services Provider.
SingTel, NTT Communications, BT Global Services, Globe Telecom, Pacnet and Softbank Mobile each picked up more than two nominations. Once again, SingTel led the pack with seven nominations while NTT Communications picked up four and BT, Globe, Pacnet and Softbank each had three. Eight telcos earned two nominations: Celcom Axiata, PCCW Global, SK Telecom, Smart, StarHub, Telstra, Telkomsel and YTL Communications. Axiata Group companies were nominated in four categories.
Ten of the companies making the shortlist this year were first-time finalists. These included: Dialog Axiata, DiGi, Equinix, LGU+, Savvis, SmarTone, Telenor Pakistan, Telkomsel, YTL Communications and 3 Indonesia.
Now in its 16th year, the awards are the region’s longest-running and most prestigious telecom industry awards. They reward innovative and outstanding performance by Asian service providers and industry executives. The awards are held in conjunction with Telecom Asia's Telco Strategies conference. The theme for 2013 is "At the crossroads: Innovation strategies to profit in the digital world."
Final selection is made by an independent panel of industry experts, who will cast votes on the basis of innovation, financial performance, technology, market leadership and corporate governance. Winners will be notified by the end of March. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on April 17 at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.
Last year, SingTel won the Best Asian Telecom Carrier trophy and SK Telecom won the Best Mobile Carrier category, both operators impressing the judges for their “focus on innovation and for building capacity and network assets across the region”.
Smart’s president and CEO Napoleon Nazareno was voted Telecom CEO of the Year in 2012 for his performance at the helm of Smart, which claimed Best Emerging Market Carrier while its m-health program, SHINE (Secured Health Information Network and Exchange) won the Best Community Telecom Project category.
TELECOM ASIA AWARDS 2013 SHORTLIST:
Best Asian Telecom Carrier
KT
NTT Communications
SingTel
SK Telecom
Softbank
StarHub
Telstra
Telecom CEO of the Year
David Thodey, Telstra
Shazalli Ramly, Celcom Axiata
Ernest Cu, Globe Telecom
Kevin Taylor, BT Global Services
Masayoshi Son, Softbank
Wing K. Lee, YTL
Best Mobile Carrier
Celcom Axiata
LGU+
SK Telecom
SmarTone
Softbank Mobile
YTL Communications
Best Broadband Carrier
Globe Broadband
PCCW
StarHub
SingTel
Telekom Malaysia
Best Emerging Markets Carrier
Axiata
Smart
XL Axiata
3 Indonesia
Best Data Center Services Provider
Equinix
NTT Communications
Pacnet
Savvis
Telstra Global