GSM Milestones: Fourteen Years of Continued Success (1982-1996)

Date GSM Milestones
1982 -Group Speciale Mobile is created within CEPT
1986 -A permanent Nucleus is set up
1987 -Main radio transmission techniques are chosen, based on prototype evaluation (1986)
-MoU Group formed in September with 13 members from 12 areas
1989 -GSM becomes an ETSI technical committee (TC)
1990 -The phase 1 GSM 900 specifications (drafted 1987 - 1990) are frozen
-DCS adaptation starts
-Validation systems implemented
-First GSM World congress Rome - 650 Participants
1991 -First systems are running (Telecom '91 exhibition)
-DCS specifications are frozen
-Delivery for opening of capital city service
-GSM World Congress Nice - 690 Participants
1992 -Many major European GSM 900 operators begin commercial operations - the first network operator is Oy Radiolinja Ab - Finland - service starts January '92
-By end '92 - 13 networks on air in 7 areas.
-GSM World Congress Berlin - 630 Participants
1993 -Roaming agreements between several operators put into practice
-Delivery to achieve linkage between major European capitals
-By end 1993 - 32 networks on air in 18 areas
-GSM World Congress Lisbon - 760 Participants
1994 -Data capabilities launched
-By end 1994 - 69 networks on air in 43 areas
-GSM World Congress Athens - 780 Participants
1995 -MoU is formally registered as an Association registered in Switzerland - 156 members from 86 areas.
-GSM phase 2 standardisation is completed, including adaptation for PCS 1900 (PCS)
-First PCS 1900 network live 'on air' in the USA
-Major European city coverage achieved
-Fax, data and SMS roaming started
-Video over GSM demonstrated
-Estimated 50,000 GSM sites installed worldwide
-By end 1995 117 networks on air - in 69 areas
-GSM World Congress Madrid - 1,400 participants
1996 -January 1996 - 120 networks on air in 71 areas
-GSM World Congress Cannes - 1500 participants expected.
-First ever GSM MoUA Plenary held in America - Atlanta GA.
-June 1996 - 133 networks on air - in 81 areas.

Last updated 8th December, 1996

Copyright 1996