From 124 entries. The shortlist

 Circular Economy Leaders and Repeat Performers Dominate

The shortlist for the Mobile News Awards 2026 from a record 124 entries highlights where the UK mobile channel is heading: greater specialisation, stronger customer experience and a rapidly maturing circular economy.

Across more than 22 categories, several companies appeared repeatedly, showing consistent performance across the sector. The biggest growth in entries came from refurbishment, trade-in and secondary-market categories, underlining the industry’s shift toward sustainability and lifecycle services.

Circular Economky at the core: : Secondary-device specialists featured heavily. TMT First, Likewize, MTR Group and Global Telecom Networks were shortlisted across multiple categories, alongside Envirofone, musicMagpie, Back Market and Mazuma Mobile.

Recognition spanned refurbishment, trade-in resale, repair and secondary-market services, demonstrating how circular capabilities are now central to the mobile channel rather than a niche activity.

The message is clear: lifecycle services are becoming a major revenue stream for networks, retailers and distributors. Customer Experience Still Key

Customer Service categories again attracted strong entries. Global Telecom Networks, Pangea Connect and Uplands Telco One appeared in multiple business-focused categories, while EE, Fonehouse, Big Phone Store and Lebara Mobile were repeat finalists in consumer awards. In a competitive market, differentiation increasingly depends on service quality rather than price alone.

Networks, MVNOs and Retailers Innovate Vodafone Business, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone Three were shortlisted across several network-related categories, while MVNOs such as Lebara Mobile, Cellhire and Pelion featured in both MVNO AND innovation awards.

Retailers including Fonehouse, iOutlet and Back Market also performed strongly, reflecting the blending of retail and lifecycle services.

Three themes stand out:

Circular services are commercial

Customer experience is decisive 

Enterprise innovation is accelerating.

Accessories Manufacturer

Anker

Belkin

5G Advanced

Vodafone Business

AI Network

VodafoneThree

B2B Dealer

Global Telecom Networks

GK Telecom

Uplands One Telco

Customer Service – Business

Active Digital

Giacom

Global Telecom Networks

Pangea Connected

The One Point

Uplands One Telco

Customer Service – Consumer

The Big Phone Store

EE

Fonehouse

Lebara Mobile

Spusu

Device Distributor

EGE

eSIM Deployment/Service

SureSIM

Breeze

eSIMGo

Pelion

Radius

Gadget Phone Insurance Provider

Likewize

SPB

EE

Innovative Product

Vodafone Business

Apkudo

Global Telecom Networks

Radius

Virgin Media O2

Innovative Service

Trustonic

EE

eRoaming

Global Telecom Networks

Pangea Connected

Device Lifecycle Management

Likewize

TMT First

Blackbelt360

Utelize

Mobile Retailer

Fonehouse

iOutlet

MVNO

Gamma 

iD Mobile

Pelion

Lebara Mobile

Cellhire

Network – Business

Vodafone Business

plan.com

Pangea Connected

Network – Consumer

Virgin Media O2

EE

Lebara

Mobile

Vodafone Three

Online Retailer

musicMagpie

Back Market

Fonehouse

MTR Group

iOutlet

Refurbishment Programme

TMT First

The Big Phone Store

webuyanyphone

iOutlet

Secondary Market Facilitator

Back Market

MTR Group

TMT First

Blackbelt360

Envirofone

Likewize

Compare and Recycle

Secondary Market Provider

TMT First

Likewize

musicMagpie

Mazuma Mobile

Envirofone S

Service & Repair

Likewize

TMT First

MTR Group

Trade-In Resale

The Big Phone Store

Mazuma Mobile

musicMagpie Envirofone

MTR Group

WeBuyAnyPhone