Etisalat Introduces Prize for Innovation, Submit Entry Now!

The inaugural ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ is aimed at encouraging and celebrating valuable innovation in the African market and will be awarded in 2 categories; both prizes will be for driving or facilitating mobile broadband use in Africa. The first prize of $25,000 is for the most innovative product or service launched in the last 12 months and a second prize of $10,000 for the most innovative idea.

According to Steven Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ Award seeks to reward corporate organizations, small and growing businesses as well as individuals developing advanced mobile broadband solutions and platforms in Africa. “The importance of Africa as a growth market for mobile broadband is clearly evident, as the continent remains the fastest growing telecommunications market in the world.

We have launched this award because we realise the importance of innovative broadband projects, products and services which have improved the way we live and work. Innovation is core to our business strategy at Etisalat and we see ourselves as a young and innovative business setting the pace for others in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.”

Entries for the award must show demonstrable impact on broadband usage, impressive uptake from customers and would have made a visible commercial or social impact in the community. Entries are open to African Operators and Mobile Virtual Network Operators with innovative Broadband products or services using the GSM network family (2G GPRS & EDGE, 3G, HSPA, LTE), Handset and/or Device manufacturers, App Developers and other Software service providers making use of mobile broadband capability, Radio and Core network Infrastructure suppliers enabling broadband products and content developers.

The judging panel will be chaired by the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat, Steven Evans with former Chief Technical Officer, GSM Association,  Bill Best as Co-Chair of Judges.

Joining them are Senior Director at Accenture Nigeria, Usen Udoh, Head of Developer Outreach across Africa for Google, Chukwuemeka Afigbo and Chief Executive Officer of Pagatech, Tayo Oviosu.

Entries for the award close on Thursday 6th of September 2012 (see update below) and should be made via etisalat.com.ng/innovation