BEST OF AUSTRALIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS CELEBRATED AT INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The annual Telecommunications Industry Excellence (TIE) Awards, hosted by the Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA), recognised outstanding achievements in the sector at an event in Sydney last night.
The awards across ten key categories recognise innovation in networks, products and technology; advances in security and resilience; excellence in customer service, and exceptional contributions to society.
Kate McKenzie, former Chair of NBN Co and former CEO of Chorus NZ, was awarded the telecommunications industry’s most prestigious accolade as the 2026 Communications Ambassador.
Victoria Rubensohn AM, Consumer Director and Deputy Chair at Communications Compliance, was also recognised, winning the coveted 2026 Consumer Champion Award.
Luke Coleman, CEO of ATA, said: “The 20th Annual Telecommunications Industry Excellence Awards recognised and rewarded exceptional performance across ten categories. These awards, judged by an independent panel of experienced telecommunications experts, put a spotlight on the companies that have excelled in innovation in networks, products, security, and customer service.”
Winners of the 2026 Telecommunications Industry Excellence Awards include:
- 2026 Communications Ambassador: Kate McKenzie
Kate McKenzie was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the industry over two decades.
After starting her career in the public sector, Ms McKenzie joined Telstra in 2004 as Group Managing Director of Regulatory, Public Policy & Communications. During her 12 years at Telstra, her roles included Group Managing Director of Wholesale; Group Managing Director of Telstra Innovation, Products and Marketing; Chief Marketing Officer, and finally Chief Operating Officer.
In 2017 Kate was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Chorus in New Zealand. She was later appointed to the Board of NBN in 2019, where she was ultimately was appointed Chair from 2022 to 2024.
- 2026 Customer Champion Award: Victoria Rubensohn AM
Victoria Rubensohn AM is a distinguished communications, governance, and regulatory policy expert dedicated to consumer advocacy. As Consumer Director and Deputy Chair at Communications Compliance Ltd, she has spent decades championing consumer rights across statutory agencies, media law panels, and major bodies like the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN). Her lifelong commitment to fairness and digital accessibility makes her a true consumer champion.
- Innovation in Networks, Products and Technology (Large company): Superloop
Superloop won the award for the development and launch of its next-generation AI assistant, Teddy. Unlike typical, more passive chatbots, Teddy can run real-time diagnostics, manage accounts, place equipment orders, process plan changes and escalate issues to human agents when required to help resolve customer service issues faster and more efficiently.
- Innovation in Networks, Products and Technology (SME): Isoton
Isoton was recognised for creating ZMobile, a new, digital-first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), built on the Isoton MNVE platform and TPG’s wholesale network and delivered entirely within the Zip app. Customers can select a plan, verify their identity and activate an eSIM in minutes, with no separate app, login or store visit required.
- Contribution to Society: Telstra Foundation
Telstra Foundation’s Australian Youth Digital Index Initiative pairs rigorous research with genuine youth participation to improve outcomes for children and young people, and in doing so, is helping to strengthen society. It amplifies youth voices, builds Australia’s evidence base on digital inclusion and wellbeing, and turns insight into action.
- Commitment to Customer Service: Occom
Occom’s Customer Service Excellence Programme delivers reliable internet services supported be clear onboarding, multilingual customer support, extended service hours, and consistent service standards. The company’s approach to service has resulted in strong customer satisfaction, positive online feedback and recognition from independent industry organisations across Australia.
- Innovation in Infrastructure, Security and Resilience: Ventia
Ventia is helping the SKA Observatory deliver world-first digital infrastructure for the SKA-Low telescope on Wajarri Yamaji country in Western Australia. Combining high-capacity fibre, RFI-shielded power and processing facilities, and operating within a protected radio quiet zone, the platform enables ultra-faint signal detection while establishing sovereign, mission-critical capability applicable beyond astronomy.
- Innovation in Mobile: Telstra and Ericsson
Telstra Dynamic 5G is Australia’s first commercial enterprise-grade network slicing service with a managed Service Level Agreement (SLA), delivered over Fixed Wireless Access. Powered by Ericsson’s network slicing technology on Telstra’s 5G Standalone network, it delivers guaranteed throughput, usage-based pricing, and real-time performance transparency, giving enterprises committed, on-demand wireless connectivity on their terms.
- Innovation in Satellite Services: Optus
Optus successfully demonstrates solar sailing on an operational GEO satellite: Optus D2, using repurposed solar arrays rather than a purpose-built sail. Conducted entirely from the Belrose Space Operations Centre, this innovation offers new pathways for sustainable end-of-life spacecraft management and advances knowledge for GEO operators globally.
- Innovation in Vendor Technology: NetComm
The NF71 Wi-Fi 7 Gateway and NS71 EasyMesh Satellite are Australia’s own next-generation, whole-of-home broadband platform, purpose-built for the nbn network. Delivering Wi-Fi 7 speeds of up to 6.4 Gbps, 2.5GE connectivity, and zero-touch ISP provisioning, the platform launched with More Telecom and Tangerine in February 2026.
