The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 Awards recognised leading companies, startups and technology innovators for their contributions to India’s rapidly evolving telecommunications ecosystem. Presented during the 10th edition of IMC in New Delhi, the annual awards celebrated achievements in indigenous telecom technology, 5G applications, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, enterprise connectivity and international technology exports.
The awards highlighted India’s growing capabilities in developing homegrown technologies and strengthening its position in the global telecommunications industry. From innovative startups addressing real-world challenges to established technology companies advancing telecom infrastructure, the IMC 2026 Awards showcased the breadth of innovation across the sector.
The ceremony also recognised the importance of domestic manufacturing, sustainable business growth, digital inclusion and next-generation connectivity in supporting India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047.
5G Innovation Hackathon 2026 Recognises Six Startups
One of the major highlights of the India Mobile Congress 2026 Awards was the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026, which recognised six startups for developing technology-driven solutions to practical challenges.
The innovation challenge was launched by Ericsson India and invited startups, researchers, academic institutions and innovators from across the country to develop solutions using 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The challenge focused on five key areas: rural technology and digital inclusion, healthcare access and diagnostics, climate and environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity and food security, and advanced manufacturing.
The nationwide initiative attracted 800 applications. Following a rigorous three-stage evaluation process, the competition shortlisted 20 finalists before the jury selected the winning teams.
Torchit, Skye Air Mobility and scanO emerged as the primary winners, while Okulo Aerospace, Proxgy and KissanAI were recognised as runners-up.
The results demonstrated the potential of India’s startup ecosystem to develop innovative applications for connectivity, healthcare, agriculture, mobility and other critical sectors. The hackathon also highlighted how emerging technologies can support inclusive growth and address challenges beyond traditional telecommunications.
Jyotiraditya Scindia Highlights India’s Innovation Journey
Addressing the broader significance of the awards, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hon’ble Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, highlighted the role of young innovators in India’s technological progress.
He said India’s remarkable telecom growth over the past decade had delivered significant improvements in coverage, affordability and inclusivity. He also emphasised that intellectual property and innovation would be central to the country’s next phase of development.
Scindia noted that the government had established the regulatory architecture to support this transformation, while underscoring the journey from India’s historical position as Vishwaguru to an Atmanirbhar Bharat and, ultimately, Viksit Bharat 2047.
His remarks reinforced the importance of developing indigenous intellectual property, encouraging entrepreneurship and creating technologies capable of competing in international markets.
IMC 2026 Awards Celebrate Homegrown Telecom Innovation
The India Mobile Congress 2026 Awards placed significant emphasis on domestic technology development and the growth of India’s telecom supply chain.
Aerial Telecom Solutions Pvt. Ltd. received the Best MSME in Telecom Ecosystem award, recognising its contribution to the telecommunications industry. Communications Test Design India Pvt. Ltd. (CTDI) received the Sustainable Growth Award for Organization in Telecom Ecosystem.
Space World Digital Solutions was recognised with the Best Made in India Telecom Innovation award, highlighting the importance of domestic engineering and indigenous technology development.
These honours reflected the contribution of micro, small and medium enterprises, established organisations and technology developers to India’s expanding digital infrastructure. Supporting domestic innovation remains important for strengthening supply chains, creating specialised capabilities and reducing dependence on imported technology.
Ericsson, HCL Tech and Fortinet Win Technology Awards
Several major technology companies received recognition for their contributions to telecom software, cloud computing and digital security.
Ericsson won the Most Innovative Telecom Software award, highlighting its role in the telecommunications software landscape. HCL Tech received the Best Cloud Solution for Telco Ecosystem award for its contribution to cloud-based telecom capabilities.
Fortinet Inc. was recognised with the Best Security, Privacy & Authentication Driven Solution of the Year award, reflecting the growing importance of cybersecurity and data protection as networks and enterprise services become increasingly connected.
These awards highlighted three critical areas shaping the telecom industry’s future: software innovation, cloud-enabled infrastructure and secure digital communications.
As telecommunications networks evolve to support advanced enterprise applications, connected devices and emerging digital services, these capabilities are becoming increasingly important for operators and businesses.
Sundaram Clayton Wins Best 5G Use Case Award
Enterprise adoption of next-generation connectivity was another important theme at the event.
Sundaram Clayton Ltd. received the Most Innovative 5G Use Case Deployed for the Year award. The recognition highlighted the growing relevance of 5G beyond consumer mobile connectivity and its potential applications in industrial and enterprise environments.
Businesses are exploring advanced connectivity to support automation, connected equipment, real-time monitoring and more efficient industrial operations. The award brought attention to the importance of practical deployments that demonstrate the business value of next-generation telecom infrastructure.
The recognition also reinforced the need to translate technological advances into measurable improvements in productivity, operational efficiency and industrial performance.
Tanla Platforms and Nokia Recognised for Telecom Technology Exports
Export leadership featured prominently among the India Mobile Congress 2026 Awards categories.
Tanla Platforms Limited won the Biggest Indian Telecom Technology Exporter of the Year award, while Nokia Solutions and Networks India Pvt. Ltd. received the Biggest Telecom Technology Exporter of the Year award.
The two honours highlighted the importance of Indian technology capabilities in domestic and international markets.
Telecom technology exports can support economic growth, strengthen industry expertise and expand the global reach of products and services developed by Indian companies. Recognition in this category also draws attention to the role of software, communications infrastructure and technology services in building India’s competitiveness.
As demand for digital connectivity continues to expand globally, Indian companies have opportunities to contribute to international telecom ecosystems through innovation, engineering and technology exports.
IMC 2026 Recognises Exhibition Design and Interactive Technology Displays
The awards also celebrated companies that created engaging exhibition experiences and showcased innovative technologies on the event floor.
TCS received the Best Exhibit Design of the Year award, while Qualcomm was named Best Interactive Exhibitor of the Year. Ciena won the Most Innovative Tech Display award, and Netprompt AI was recognised as the Most Innovative Startup Display.
These categories highlighted the role of exhibition design and interactive demonstrations in communicating complex technologies to visitors, industry professionals and potential business partners.
For exhibitors at major technology events, an effective display can help demonstrate product capabilities, facilitate industry discussions and introduce new solutions to prospective customers. Interactive technology showcases also create opportunities for businesses to engage with visitors and communicate the practical applications of innovation.
The awards reflected the importance of combining technological excellence with effective presentation and audience engagement at large-scale industry exhibitions.
Complete List of India Mobile Congress 2026 Award Winners
The following companies and startups were recognised across the award categories announced during the 10th edition of India Mobile Congress 2026.
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026 – Primary Winners | Torchit, Skye Air Mobility and scanO |
| 5G Innovation Hackathon 2026 – Runners-up | Okulo Aerospace, Proxgy and KissanAI |
| Most Innovative 5G Use Case Deployed for the Year | Sundaram Clayton Ltd. |
| Best MSME in Telecom Ecosystem | Aerial Telecom Solutions Pvt. Ltd. |
| Best Made in India Telecom Innovation | Space World Digital Solutions |
| Best Cloud Solution for Telco Ecosystem | HCL Tech |
| Sustainable Growth Award for Organization in Telecom Ecosystem | Communications Test Design India Pvt. Ltd. (CTDI) |
| Most Innovative Telecom Software | Ericsson |
| Best Security, Privacy & Authentication Driven Solution of the Year | Fortinet Inc. |
| Biggest Telecom Technology Exporter of the Year | Nokia Solutions and Networks India Pvt. Ltd. |
| Biggest Indian Telecom Technology Exporter of the Year | Tanla Platforms Limited |
| Best Exhibit Design of the Year | TCS |
| Best Interactive Exhibitor of the Year | Qualcomm |
| Most Innovative Tech Display | Ciena |
| Most Innovative Startup Display | Netprompt AI |
India’s Telecom Industry Looks Towards the Next Phase of Growth
The India Mobile Congress 2026 Awards highlighted the diversity of innovation taking place across India’s telecommunications and digital technology ecosystem. The recognition extended from emerging startups and MSMEs to global technology companies, enterprise users and export-oriented businesses.
The 5G Innovation Hackathon demonstrated the potential of new ventures to apply advanced technologies to real-world challenges. Meanwhile, awards for telecom software, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, industrial 5G deployments and exports reflected the industry’s broader development priorities.
The event also underscored the importance of indigenous innovation, intellectual property creation and collaboration between businesses, researchers and government institutions.
As India continues to expand its digital infrastructure and develop advanced technology capabilities, initiatives that recognise innovation can help bring attention to promising solutions and encourage greater participation across the ecosystem.
