Huawei, SK Telecom, and China Mobile dominated the 30th annual Global Mobile (Glomo) Awards at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona last week.
Huawei stood out with wins in network infrastructure, mobile technology breakthroughs, and private network solutions, while SK Telecom cemented itself as a leader in AI and cloud technologies. China Mobile shared honours in categories recognising both network innovation and mobile solutions for underserved areas.
Yet beyond the industry titans, this year’s winners also included some unexpected names and groundbreaking initiatives. Kyiv Digital from Ukraine won for its Digital Shield system, a security innovation designed to support emergency responses during wartime. RAZ took home an award for its Memory Cell Phone, designed for individuals with cognitive impairments, demonstrating how mobile technology can serve accessibility needs. Silvanet‘s Ultra-Early Wildfire Detection system showcased how connectivity can help combat climate change by detecting environmental threats faster.
Complete list of Glomo award winners
Mobile Tech
- CTO Choice: Outstanding Mobile Technology Award: China Mobile and Huawei – Telecom Foundation Model
- Best Mobile Network Infrastructure: Huawei – GigaGreen Radio
- Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough: Huawei – GigaGear for 5G SA Solution
- Best Network Software Breakthrough: China Mobile and Huawei – Telecom Foundation Model
- Best Digital Tech Breakthrough (for companies with under $10-million annual global revenue): BroadForward – World’s First Cloud-Native Signalling Transfer Point
- Best Mobile Security Solution: Singtel – Enterprise Mobile Protect and 5G Priority
- GSMA Foundry Innovation Award: ZTE – Minimalist Private 5G for Entertainment
- Best Cloud Solution: SK Telecom – Petasus Cloud
- Best Non-Terrestrial Network Solution: Skylo – Direct-to-Device Messaging and SOS Connectivity on Android
- Best Private Network Solution: China Unicom Guangdong, Gree, and Huawei – World’s Largest Next-Generation ‘Lights-out’ Factory
Digital Everything
- Best Mobile Operator Service for Connected Consumers: SK Telecom – APS
- Best Mobile Innovation for Connected Economy: China Unicom Guangdong, Gree, and Huawei – World’s Largest Next-Generation ‘Lights-out’ Factory
- Best Mobile Innovation for Connected Health and Wellbeing: China Telecom – World’s First 5G UAV Medical Delivery Network (Hangzhou)
- Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life: Rakuten – NEO
- Best Mobile Innovation for Cities: China Unicom, Yunhuan Connected Drone Technology, and ZTE – 5G-A Smart Blood Delivery in Urban Blood Stations
- Best AI Innovation: Qualcomm – AI Engine in Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform
- Best Fintech Innovation: bKash and Huawei – Digital Loan Solution for All
- GSMA Open Gateway Challenge: China Mobile, Alibaba Cloud, ByteDance, and ZTE – AaaS Open Gateway Platform with Alipay and TikTok
Devices
- Best Smartphone: Google – Pixel 9 Pro
- Breakthrough Device Innovation: Google – Gemini
- Best Connected Consumer Device: Tecno – Mega Mini Gaming G1
- Best in Show: Xiaomi – 15 Ultra
Tech4Good
- Best Mobile Innovation in Emerging Markets: China Mobile Qinghai & Huawei – Wireless RuralStar Plus
- Best Mobile Innovation Supporting Emergency or Humanitarian Situations: Kyiv Digital – Digital Shield
- Best Mobile Innovation for Accessibility and Inclusion: RAZ – Memory Cell Phone
- Best Mobile Innovation for Climate Action: Silvanet – Ultra-Early Wildfire Detection
- Outstanding Mobile Contribution to the UN SDGs: SK Telecom – Happy Habit
- Best Mobile Innovation for Enhancing the Lives of Children and Young People: SK Telecom and YATAV – Meta Forest
Government Leadership
- Government Leadership Award: The Federative Republic of Brazil
Outstanding Achievement
- Outstanding Contribution to the Mobile Industry: Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA
- Diversity in Tech Award: Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO, Women in Tech
Marketing Excellence
- Best Event Activation: Orange – Ambient Mobile Technology at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- CMO Marketing Campaign Award: VEON – Mobilink Bank
Dominant players of the Glomos 2025
While many companies took home individual honours, Huawei, SK Telecom, and China Mobile were the biggest winners:
Huawei won across network infrastructure, security, fintech, and mobile innovation, reinforcing its position as a leading global telecom player.
SK Telecom claimed multiple awards for AI, cloud, sustainability, and mobile services, proving its commitment to both cutting-edge technology and social impact.
China Mobile was a major player in network software, emerging markets connectivity, and open gateway solutions, continuing its role as a pioneer in global mobile infrastructure.
With a mix of corporate powerhouses, disruptive startups, and humanitarian-focused innovations, the Glomo Awards highlighted the transformative potential of mobile technology.
The winners set the pace for a future where connectivity isn’t just about speed, but about shaping a more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable digital world.