2025 IEEE CTU Challenge Prize Winners
LEARN MORE ABOUT the winnERS & FINALISTS ON YOUTUBE
Best Overall
Siantsio sikowa‚ Amazon Always Connected
Presenter
Jason Switzer & Joaquin Wray
Award: USD 2,500
Sponsored by: Internet Society
Solar-Powered Community Broadband Network in Tanzania
Presenter
Coleen Chase, Jon Ruth, David Machuche, Victor Muhagachi, & Alinagwe Mwaselela
Award: USD 2,000
Sponsored by: APNIC Foundation
FIRST PLACE
Technical Proof of Concept 1st Place
Red Abya Yala Toolkit
Presenter
Nicolás Tapia & Roberto Soto
Award: USD 1,750
Innovation in Last Mile Connectivity for Tribal Health in India using BharatNet
Presenter
Aloknath De
Award: USD 1,250
Community Enablement
Proof of Concept 1st Place
Aajeevika Connect
Presenter
Subhi Quraishi, Hilmi Quraishi, & Deergha Mahesh
Award: USD 1,750
Business Model
Proof of Concept 1st Place
Changing the Digital Landscape of Rural India
Presenter
Rajesh Kaul
Award: USD 1,750
Business Model Concept 1st Place
Ko’ina StreetWi-Fi
Presenter
Olusegun Oladele-David
Award: USD 1,250
Second Place
Technical Proof of Concept 2nd Place
SONIC: A Low-Cost Access Solution for Developing Countries using FM Radio and SMS
Presenter
Ayush Pandey, Rohail Asim, Jean Louis K. E. Fendji, Talal Rahwan, Matteo Varvello, & Yasir Zaki
Award: USD 750
Empowering Rural Communities: A Collaborative 5G Network in a Box and Non-Terrestrial Network Approach for Digital Inclusion in Indonesia’s 3T Regions
Presenter
Alfin Hikmaturokhman
Award: USD 500
Community Enablement
Proof of Concept 2nd Place
Unlocking Potential: Technology and Leadership for Young Women at LSSS
Presenter
David Light, Gerri Light, Paulo Lengai, Agnes Issack, Sue Crane, Amanda Gowin, Rehema Naman, Diana Sendeka, Bob Hansen, Shondra Atkins, & Angel Ross
Award: USD 750
Community Enablement Concept 2nd Place
AgriLink: Low-Power IoT Network for Smallholder Farmers’ Market Access and Weather Alerts
Presenter
Sai Prashanth Mallellu & Rajanikanth Aluvalu
Award: USD 500
Business Model
Proof of Concept 2nd Place
Sic Xochiteopan
Presenter
Oyuqui Pérez, Marcial Palacios, Hilda Pérez, & Marcial Palacios
Award: USD 750
Business Model Concept 2nd Place
Symbiotic Community Networks: Bridging the Digital Divide through DLT-Verified Barter and User-Driven Infrastructure
Presenter
Hossein Jamali
Award: USD 500
HONORABLE MENTION
Technical Proof of Concept Honorable Mention
SOLE Voltaje Desconectado
Presenter
Sanjay Fernandes, Lizeth Naranjo, Mateo Moreno, & Belen Sevilla
Community Enablement Proof of Concept Honorable Mention
Informal Wi-Fi
Presenter
Jabulani Vilakazi, Jabulani Vilakazi, Andile Luthuli, Mbali Dube, & Chumisa Mbayise
Honorable Mention Public Choice Award
Symbiotic Community Networks: Bridging the Digital Divide through DLT-Verified Barter and User-Driven Infrastructure
Presenter
Hossein Jamali