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AWARDS - 2026

Recognizing Excellence in Telecommunications

The time has come to celebrate innovation and leadership in the telecommunications sector.

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The CONECTA LATAM AWARDS 2026 recognize the professionals, operators, providers, and regulators transforming the industry across Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

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Nominations are open to operators, ISPs, MVNOs, datacenters, technology and solution providers, consultancies, and regulators — as well as individual professionals — across 14 categories. The same project, service, or team may be submitted to more than one category.

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CONECTA LATAM AWARDS 2026: Shortlist of Finalists by Category

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Category 1: Telecommunications Professional of the Year — female / male (individual award) · Public vote
This award recognizes the telecommunications executive who has demonstrated outstanding commercial success, leadership qualities, disruptive initiatives, and community service throughout their career.

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Aamir Hussain

LIBERTY LATIN AMERICA

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Enrique Coulembier 

MUNDO CHILE

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Iader Maldonado

CLARO COLOMBIA

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Israel Madiedo

IZZI

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Jeronimo Diez 

AT&T MÉXICO

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Jonas Ribeiro

GLOBO

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Marcelo Benitez

MILLICOM

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Rodolfo Apestegui 

TELECABLE

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Rogerio Takayanagi

VIVO BRASIL

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Xavier Moreano

NETLIFE ECUADOR

Finalists male category:

Finalists female category:

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Bárbara Gurjão

MOBILEUM

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Johanna Escobar

LIBERTY COSTA RICA

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Katherin Mino

PUNTONET ECUADOR

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Maria Luisa Escolar

CLARO COLOMBIA

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Maryleana Méndez

ASIET

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Natalia Pignataro

ANTEL URUGUAY

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Priscila Oliva

AMERICAN TOWER

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Teresa Gomes

INTERNET PARA TODOS

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Zaima Milazzo

ALGAR TELECOM

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Zaira Pérez Salinas

ALTÁN REDES

Voting is open!

In our voting process, we value authenticity. Therefore, please note that each vote is unique, and only votes with corporate emails will be considered valid.

1. Finalists female category
Bárbara Gurjão – Senior Vice President and General Manager for Latam at Mobileum
Johanna Escobar – Gerente General de Liberty Costa Rica
Katherin Lorena Miño – Gerente General, Puntonet Ecuador
Maria Luisa Escolar – Directora de Claro Colombia
Maryleana Méndez – Secretaria General de ASIET
Natalia Pignataro – CTO, ANTEL Uruguay
Priscila Oliva – VP and General Director for CAS de American Tower
Teresa Gomes de Almeida – Chief Executive Director de Internet para Todo
Zaima Milazzo – VP de Tecnologia, Evolução Digital, Agilidade e Inovação, Algar Brasil
Zaira Pérez Salinas – Directora General (CEO), Altán Redes México
2. Finalists male category
Aamir Hussain – Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Product Officer, Liberty Latin America
Enrique Coulembier Picchi – CEO de Mundo Telecomunicaciones Chile
Iader Maldonado – Director Corporativo de Tecnología de Claro Colombia
Israel Madiedo – Director de Innovación y Tecnología, IZZI
Jeronimo Diez de Sollano – VP and Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) de AT&T
Jonas Ribeiro - Leading the Convergence of Telecom, Broadcast and Digital Media da GLOBO
Marcelo Benítez – Presidente de Millicom
Rodolfo Apestegui Hoffmaister – CEO de Telecable
Rogerio Takayanagi – Chief Technology Officer de VIVO Brasil
Xavier Moreano – Chief Marketing & Product Officer at Netlife Ecuador
Vote now 2025

Finalists male category:

​​​Category 2: Best Digital Transformation Project (Open to operators and providers) · Judged by the panel
This award goes to the project that has done the most to achieve digital transformation within an organization and can best demonstrate the resulting benefits.

- Algar - Jornada Inteligente

- Cable & Wireless Panamá - Escuelas Conectadas

- EAF - Norte Conectado

- Global Fiber Peru - Amazon Fiber

- Globo - DTV+ Brasil

- ICE - Gestion geoespacial O&M

- Mundo - Internet más rapida

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Category 3: Best Innovative Operator (Open to operators) · Judged by the panel
The winner will be the operator that can best demonstrate significant achievements in innovation, based on the KPIs they choose to be judged on. These may include business growth, technological achievements, or product innovation.

- Algar - Transformacao Digital em Escala

- Entel Peru - Satelital D2C

- Mundo - Internet más rapida

- Netlife - Operador Innovador

- ON NETFIBRA - Modelo Mayorista

- Personal Paraguay - Fixed Internet Network

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Category 4: Telecommunications Regulator (Open to regulators) · Judged by the panel
This award recognizes the regulator that, through innovative policies, drives modern and effective telecommunications — promoting competition, protecting users, ensuring universal access, and fostering innovation.

- Anatel - GADE Mision Venezuela

- CRC Colombia - Regulador

- SUTEL - Smishing y Vishing

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Category 5: Best 5G Innovation Provider (Open to providers) · Judged by the panel
The winner will be the provider whose product or initiative is considered to have done the most to build the business case for 5G. This may take the form of a technological or commercial innovation, provided the entry clearly demonstrates a significant contribution to the 5G ecosystem.

- Dry Telecom - eduroam x 5G

- Movistar Peru - Nueva Red Movil

- Prensa Ejecutiva - 5G Claro Costa Rica

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Category 6: Best Sustainability Initiative in Telecom — open to environmental and social projects (Open to operators and providers) · Judged by the panel
This award recognizes the operator or provider that best exemplifies sustainability through initiatives that reduce waste and energy consumption, as well as actions with a positive social impact. The category highlights projects that promote good practices and generate a positive effect across the telecommunications industry.

- Internet para Todos - Juntos conectamos

- Personal Argentina - Nuestro Lugar

- Prensa Ejecutiva - Reciclaje Claro Costa Rica

- Tigo Bolivia: Conectando oportunidades a través de la inclusión digital y el impacto social

- Ufinet - Brecha Digital LatAm

- Claro Peru - Interprete Lengua de Senas

- Entel Chile - Primera Respuesta

- ETB - Conexion Social

- GTData / Gtd – Project Thermal Shift 24

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Category 7: Best Security Project (Open to providers and operators) · Judged by the panel
This category will award the project that demonstrates excellence in cyber threat mitigation. Entries should demonstrate excellence in areas such as security, protection against fraudulent activity, threat mitigation, data protection, cloud security, and beyond. Judges will look to understand the threats prevented, the impact on the business, and the technologies deployed.

- Dry Telecom - eduroam x 5G

- EAF - Redes Privativas

- Enea - Liberty Costa Rica SMS Spam

- Infinitum Plus - Security at the Connectivity Layer

- SUTEL - Smishing y Vishing

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Category 8: Best Product/Solution for the B2C Market (Open to operators and providers) · Judged by the panel
This category recognizes the product or solution that has had an outstanding impact on the B2C market, delivering value to end customers through innovation, quality, ease of use, or user experience. Judges will assess the product's relevance, consumer adoption, results achieved, and its contribution to improving the customer experience.

- Algar - MIA & SUPPLA

- Claro Colombia - Escudo Claro

- Movistar Peru - Propuesta de Valor B2C

- Ookla - Downdetector

- Telecable - eero 6+

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Category 9: Best Product/Solution for the B2B Market (Open to operators and providers) · Judged by the panel
This category recognizes the product or solution that has generated an outstanding impact on the B2B market, delivering value to businesses through innovation, efficiency, scalability, or process improvement. Judges will assess the product's relevance, adoption by corporate clients, results achieved, and its contribution to transforming the enterprise customer's experience and operations.

- Global Fiber Peru - Fibra Empresarial Amazonia

- IFX Networks - B2B

- Infinitum Plus - Anti-DDoS y Secure Gateway

- Movistar Peru - Redes Industriales Mineria

- Tigo Business Bolivia - Secure SD-WAN

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Category 10: Best AI Implementation Initiative in Telecommunications (Open to operators and providers) · Judged by the panel
This category recognizes the initiative that stands out for its implementation of artificial intelligence in the telecommunications sector, improving processes, operational efficiency, or customer experience. Judges will assess the innovation, results achieved, business impact, and the added value AI brings to telecommunications operations and services.

- GTData Data Center Panamericana Phase 4

- Minsait - Smart Network CapEx

- Movistar Peru - Cobranzas con IA

- Mundo - AudioSense

- Open Labs - NOSSIS Genius

- Telecable - ODIN

- VOX Solutions - CLARA

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Category 11: Best Home Services Innovation Initiative (Open to operators and providers) · Judged by the panel
This category recognizes the initiative that stands out for introducing innovation in home services, improving connectivity, user experience, comfort, or service efficiency. Judges will assess the creativity of the solution, the results obtained, customer adoption, and the positive impact on the home experience.

- ETB - Conexion Social

- Movistar Peru - Propuesta de Valor B2C

- Mundo - Internet mas rapida

- Personal Paraguay - Fixed Internet Network

- Telecable - eero 6+

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Category 12: Best Internet Service Provider (ISP) (Open to ISPs) · Judged by the panel
This category recognizes the internet service provider that stands out for delivering reliable connectivity, speed, innovation, and excellence in customer experience. Judges will assess service quality, coverage, user satisfaction, and initiatives that demonstrate leadership in the telecommunications market.

- ICE - Kölbi: la red de la mejor experiencia digital de Costa Rica

- Infinitum Plus - ISP de los ISPs

- Mundo - Internet mas rapida

-Telecable - Mejor ISP Costa Rica

- TelViso - ISP

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Category 13: Best MVNO (Open to mobile virtual network operators) · Judged by the panel
This category recognizes the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that stands out for its value proposition, commercial innovation, customer growth, and ability to deliver differentiated mobile services. Judges will assess aspects such as the quality of the offering, customer experience, loyalty strategies, market performance, and the contribution to developing competition and digital inclusion.

- Guinea Mobile

- Imowi - MVNO

- Virgin Mobile - Beyond ONE - Digital First

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Category 14: Best Datacenter (Open to operators, providers, and infrastructure companies) · Judged by the panel
This category recognizes the datacenter that excels in operational efficiency, reliability, technological innovation, and contribution to the digital ecosystem. Judges will assess aspects such as service availability, physical and digital security, sustainability, scalability, certifications obtained, and the impact on clients' digital transformation.

- Ascenty - Latin America’s Largest Interconnected Data Center Platform

- Grupo Salinas Data Center: Mission-Critical Infrastructure Governed as Software

- GTData Data Center Panamericana Phase 4 

- NAP del Caribe

- Tigo Business Bolivia - Data Center

Key Dates

Stage

Date

Entry deadline

Nominees announced — Category 1

Public voting open — Category 1

Finalists announced — Categories 2 to 14

Judging period

Awards ceremony

October 19, 2026

October 19, 2026

November 16 – November 9, 2026

October 23, 2026

Until November 6, 2026

November 17, 2026

Ceremony held at Conecta Latam Digital Transformation & Innovation, Panama City.
 

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