The GSMA Foundry Excellence Awards 2025 recognise outstanding achievements in the mobile industry, honouring organisations that have demonstrated exceptional innovation and impact.
We are thrilled to announce the distinguished winners, each of whom has significantly contributed to advancing mobile technology and addressing key industry challenges.
Artificial Intelligence Award
The Artificial Intelligence Award celebrates projects that harness AI to drive transformative change in mobile technology. This category recognises initiatives that push the boundaries of AI applications, improving efficiency, accessibility, and innovation in mobile networks and services.
Winner: VEON, Beeline Kazakhstan and QazCode
Project: Development of the Kazakh-language Large Language Model (Kaz-LLM)
In collaboration with the Government of Kazakhstan and Nazarbayev University, VEON’s Beeline Kazakhstan and its software company QazCode have developed an open-source Kazakh-language large language model (Kaz-LLM). This project accelerates the adoption of AI-powered products while addressing the AI language gap for low-resource languages globally. With over 150 billion tokens collected, curated, synthesized, and translated, the Kaz-LLM interacts seamlessly in Kazakh, Turkish, English, and Russian.
Network Efficiency and Optimisation Award
This award highlights innovations that enhance network efficiency, reduce operational costs, and improve service quality. By automating processes and utilising AI, projects in this category demonstrate how networks can become more agile, intelligent, and cost-effective.
Winner: China Mobile & ZTE
Project: End-to-End Automation of Network Operations
This project exemplifies innovation in network efficiency by enabling fully automated, AI-driven network operations. This initiative optimises performance, reduces operational costs, and enhances service quality for users.
ZTE and China Mobile have exemplified innovation in network efficiency by enabling fully automated, AI-driven network operations. This initiative optimises performance, reduces operational costs, and enhances service quality for users.
Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) Award
The NTN Award acknowledges efforts to extend mobile connectivity beyond traditional terrestrial networks. This category celebrates projects that leverage satellite and other non-terrestrial technologies to bridge digital divides and enable global coverage.
Winner: Sateliot
Project: Expanding the Internet of Things Everywhere
Sateliot’s project focuses on harnessing non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) to extend IoT connectivity beyond traditional terrestrial coverage. This groundbreaking initiative leverages satellite technology and NTN capabilities to deliver IoT services to remote, underserved, and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring truly global connectivity.
5G Monetisation Award
This award highlights innovative solutions that help operators unlock new revenue opportunities from 5G networks. It validates projects that optimise resource allocation, enhance service offerings, and drive business growth in the 5G era.
Winners: AIS, China Mobile, e&, Globe, Huawei, STC, Sunrise, Zain KSA
Project: Intelligent Packet Core
The “Intelligent Packet Core” project transforms 5G monetisation by enabling networks to dynamically allocate resources based on real-time demand and performance metrics. This innovation unlocks new revenue opportunities for operators while enhancing user experience through optimised connectivity.
Outstanding Industry Vertical Use Case / Project Award
Thisaward category celebrates exceptional applications of mobile technology in specific industry verticals. From smart cities to event connectivity, these projects demonstrate how mobile networks can be adapted and optimised for unique use cases.
Winner: CloudRAN.ai
Project: Delivering Robust Connectivity at Major Events
CloudRAN.ai’s project revolutionises how connectivity is delivered during large-scale events, ensuring seamless, reliable, and high-performance network experiences for attendees and organisers alike.
Congratulations to all the winners for their remarkable achievements in driving progress and innovation across the mobile ecosystem.