2026

NaaS Excellence Awards

Celebrating leading member organizations and their accomplishments within the industry.

Recognizing Excellence Across the NaaS Ecosystem

The NaaS Excellence Awards celebrate the organizations and leaders advancing automated, secure, and AI-optimized network services across the global NaaS ecosystem. The program honors measurable progress in automation, interoperability, standards-based service delivery, and real-world enterprise impact spotlighting those building the intelligent, automated network supply chain for the AI-powered digital economy.

The 2026 NaaS Excellence Awards were announced on 23 September 2026, at the Mplify NaaS Excellence Awards Gala Dinner.

2026 Award Categories

Service Provider

  • NaaS for AI Leadership
  • NaaS for AI Vision,
    Global & Regional
  • NaaS Service Provider of the Year,
    Global & Regional
  • NaaS for Enterprise Implementation, Industry Verticals
  • Interconnection Infrastructure Leadership
  • Inter-Provider Automation Leadership
  • NaaS Service Innovation
  • Carrier Ethernet Service Innovation,
    Global & Regional
  • Secure NaaS Leadership

Technology Solution Provider

  • LSO Solution Provider of the Year
  • AI-Driven Orchestration Platform
  • Multi-Party Lifecycle Coordination Platform
  • Carrier Ethernet Technology
  • AI Network Infrastructure Innovation
  • NaaS Technology Innovation
  • Secure NaaS Solution

Open to All

  • NaaS Ecosystem Collaboration

Professional Leadership

  • Industry Executive of the Year
  • Michael Howard Industry Impact Award
  • Nan Chen Vanguard Award


Submission Guidelines: Award Submission Guide PDF
Award Submissions:
awards.mplify.net
Questions? Email awards@mplify.net

2026 Award Categories — Service Provider

NaaS for AI Vision — Global

Colt Technology Services

2026 Award Categories — Technology Solution Provider

2026 Award Categories — Professional Leadership

Orchest logo

Industry Executive of the Year

Jeremy Villalobos, CEO, Orchest

Michael Howard Industry Impact Award

Dan Pitt, Palo Alto Innovation Advisors

Our 2026 Judges

Joseph Attwood

Senior Analyst

Greg Bryan

Senior Manager, Enterprise Research

Telegraphically
Greg Bryan

Amy Cameron

Managing Director, Research

Roy Chua

Founder and Principal

Avid Think
Roy Chua

Rosemary Cochran

Principal Analyst & Co-Founder

Vertical Systems Group
Rosemary Cochran

Erin Dunne

Director of Research

Vertical Systems Group
Erin Dunne

James Eibisch

Research Director, EMEA Telecoms and Networking

Grant Lenahan

Partner and Principal Analyst

Ray Mota

CEO & Principal Analyst

Ian Redpath

Research Director, Transport Networks and Components

Charlie Reed

Mauricio Sanchez

Sr. Director, Enterprise Networking & Security Market Research

Dell Oro Group

Rob Schult

Research Director

Telegraphically
Rob Shult

Steve Thomas

Senior Industry Director

Brian Washburn

Research Director

Brian Washburn

Be Recognized for Excellence in the Industry!

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