The 2024 ISE Network Innovators’ Awards will honor the best telecom infrastructure/network innovations that solve Communications Service
Providers (CSPs) AND end-users pain points in a cost-effective manner.

Honorees will be announced at ISE EXPO in Dallas, TX, August 21, 2024.

Sure it is an investment of time and effort to enter your product or service in the 2024 ISE Network Innovators’ Awards program, but it is time well spent. Below are just a few of the many benefits associated with entering this year’s reviews program.

BENEFIT 1: BE RECOGNIZED
Honorees have made a groundbreaking contribution to the telecom industry and are recognized as leaders and innovators to the largest collection of telecom professionals, with coverage in ISE Magazine as well as on isemag.com.

BENEFIT 2: INCREASE CREDIBILITY
Being an honoree is validation of your product or technology, application, or research from a credible third party to the telecom industry. It’s a great way to reinforce the quality of your product to existing customers as well as potential customers.

BENEFIT 3: GAIN A SALES ADVANTAGE
Being recognized with a 2024 ISE Network Innovators’ Award is an additional tool for your sales team to use as part of their sales pitch. Companies recognized with this prestigious distinction can better compete for business since recognized honorees are less risky for potential customers.

BENEFIT 4: SET YOURSELF APART
Honorees rise above the competition and instantly tell the telecom industry their product or technology, application, or research has something unique and worthy of review.

BENEFIT 5: IT’S GREAT PR
Fully capitalize on your successful entry with announcements that grow your visibility in the industry. We even provide a press release template to use to promote your honoree status.

BENEFIT 6: STOCK YOUR TROPHY CABINET
Honorees are the proud recipients of the coveted 2024 ISE Network Innovators’ Awards to be highlighted at your booth during industry shows and then showcased in your company lobby. You’ll also be able to use the 2024 ISE Network Innovators’ Award logo on your website and marketing literature to reinforce your success.

How to Submit

Creating an Account

• Login or create your account at the specified link to be supplied on March 4.
• After you have created your account you’ll be prompted to submit your entry.
• If you are interrupted and don’t have time to complete your entry, it will be saved as IN PROGRESS until you have time to complete it. If you forgot your password, click “lost password.” Any required fields that are not filled in will be highlighted in red when you hit SAVE.
• When your entry is complete, click ADD TO CART.
• At this point, you can either ENTER ANOTHER SUBMISSION or CHECKOUT.
• At CHECKOUT, submit your credit card details and click PROCESS (Only click PROCESS one time!).

Submission Rates

• Early Bird Entry Rate: $795 per entry received on or prior to April 5, 2024.
• Regular Entry Rate: $895 per entry. Entry deadline is May 3, 2024.

Troubleshooting Your Electronic Entry

PROBLEM: I keep hitting SAVE but my entry is not saving.
Try This: Review your entry and confirm any required field is filled in or checked.

PROBLEM: I did NOT receive a confirmation email after submitting my entry.
Confirm you entered an accurate email address
Confirmation emails are sent once payment is submitted.

Selection Process
Each ISE Network Innovators’ Award Entry Should Address the Following:

• How your product/service/software helps customers meet their objectives, reduce operational expenses and/or develop new revenue sources.
• The unique features of this product or solutions as it compares to competing solutions

Judges Will Review Your Entry Based on the Following Criteria:

• Originality
• Innovation
• Positive impact on the customer
• How well it addresses a new or existing requirement
• Novelty of approach
• Cost-effectiveness

Make Sure to Include the Following in Your Judges Packet:

• A spec sheet – detailing the parameters the product or service is designed to meet.
• A brief technical description of how the product works.
• A photo or photos.
• Please Note: No more than 5 extra pages of documentation, including spec sheets, are allowed. Pictures, diagrams and/or charts do not count toward your 5 pages.
• Optional Items to Consider:
• Testimonials by users.
• Simple brief that summarizes the ability of this product, and how it differentiates itself from the competition.
• Photos and diagrams, particularly block diagrams or flow charts that help describe how the product or service works.

We want your entry to be as powerful and impressive as possible. Here are a few tips that will let the judges see your entry in the most favorable light.

• Block time out on your calendar. Map out some time on your schedule so you can focus on your entry.
• Use specific, quantitative and instantly credible language. Avoid the urge to just copy and paste the text from your marketing collateral or website.
• Be sure to answer the following questions about the product/service/software. How does your product/service/software help customers meet their objectives? How does it reduce operational expenses and/or develop new revenue sources? What are the unique features of this product as it compares to competing solutions? What makes it innovative?
• Get input from the technical/engineering team. Coworkers at your company can help provide specific examples on how the development impacts the telecom community.
• Download a preview of the entry form and compile your answers before completing the online entry. Once you’ve compiled your data, review your draft and confirm it clearly demonstrates one of the following criteria: originality, innovation, positive impact on the customer, how well it addresses a new or existing requirement, novelty of approach, cost-effectiveness.
• Back up your claims with supporting evidence such as charts, tables, or testimonials. Make it as easy as possible for the judges to look at your entry in the most favorable light.
• Call or email if we can help!

Submission Rates
Early Bird Entry Rate (ON or BEFORE April 5, 2024): $795 per entry
Regular Entry Rate (Final Deadline is May 3, 2024): $895 per entry

When do I need to submit my entry?
Early bird entries are due April 5, 2024, and final entries are due May 3, 2024 before 11:59 PM EST.

Which products are eligible?
Products used in fixed and mobile broadband networks and enabling related technologies are eligible. FTTx, 5G, Network Reliability and Automation, Testing products, GIS, AI, and associated offerings are also eligible. When the product was released may factor into how the judges decide its innovation value, with recent innovations generally preferred. Entries based on a product upgrade should focus on the benefits of the upgrade.

What if my product won’t be announced before the deadline?
As long as it will be introduced by the end of ISE EXPO 2024, it still qualifies. (subject to change based on program year)

My product won’t be announced until after the May entry deadline. How do you ensure confidentiality?
Our judges, program director, and staff are under strict instructions not to share the details of unannounced products with their coworkers or anyone else. Additionally, we take pains to ensure in all cases that entries are not judged by employees of competitive companies.

Worried about non-disclosure agreements?
If you have an application that you would like to submit, but are worried that a non-disclosure agreement will prevent you from doing so, feel free to refer to the parties involved in general terms.

When will we find out if we are a finalist?
Honorees for the program will be notified in the second quarter of 2024

Do you have a question about whether your product or application would be a worthy entrant?
Reach out on questions like these and any others by contacting us.