It’s hard to believe that the judging process for the SCF Small Cell Awards has begun again, but once again I’m honored to be chairing the panel of expert judges who will spend many hours, over the coming few months, poring over a large pile of top quality entries. The culmination will be the presentation of the the winners, in 10 categories, at a gala dinner on September 29 2020. This will be held as part of the Small Cells World Summit event in London.
Before that glittering occasion, there is plenty of work to be done – by the organisations submitting their technical innovations or commercial milestones for consideration; and by the judges who work together, in a series of discussions, to decide the shortlisted and winning entries.
Those decisions are always difficult, and promise to be even more so in 2020, as small cells become critical to the 4G and 5G plans of many operators, and as new frontiers open up for the technology, in industrial applications and private or neutral host networks. The awards categories this year will reflect, and seek to reward, emerging business models like these, as well as success in traditional cellular applications.
We judges are always on the look-out for submissions which highlight a technology or business model that will help lower barriers, and accelerate deployment, for the industry as a whole. We make these assessments based on many years of studying the small cell industry, and of maintaining close contacts with operators and vendors of all kinds.
This is why the success and prestige of the awards is high, because SCF takes care to invite the most experienced and knowledgeable analysts and journalists in this sector to take part. That brings a wealth of insights and expertise to the task, and ensures complete objectivity and fairness, not to mention lively debate, in the judging process.
This year’s panel of judges consists of:
- Caroline Gabriel, Rethink Technology Research (Chair)
- Charles Brookson, Azenby Ltd, Zeata Security Ltd
- Keith Dyer, The Mobile Network
- Simon Fletcher, Real Wireless
- Emanuel Kolta, GSMA Intelligence
- Roberto Kompany, Analysys Mason
- Kyung Mun, Mobile Experts LLC
- Ken Rehbehn, IHS Markit
- Sue Rudd, Strategy Analytics
- Ian Scales, TelecomTV
- John Tanner, Disruptive.Asia
By working hard to make the judging process so rigorous and well-respected, we believe the benefits of entering the SCF awards are very high. There are many awards in our industry, and entering any of them involves time and effort, but SCF offers a unique combination of highly targeted categories, which ensure shortlisted entries gain profile just where they need it; a well-regarded judging panel and process; and a scope that spans visible commercial and technical success, as well as future-looking innovations.
The awards, and especially the gala dinner where winners are announced, have a high profile with the media and with the mobile networks sector at large. This year, SCF’s media partner, The Mobile Network, will cover the awards, including features on the judges and finalists.
I believe 2020’s awards will be the most hotly contested, and closely watched, that SCF has run to date. We urge you to make sure you have the chance to win one of these well-regarded accolades, and look forward to seeing your entries.
Details of the SCF Small Cell Awards and how to enter, can be found here.