Our history
See how our history is strongly linked to the industry’s and the way we’ve evolved with the worldwide mobile communications ecosystem.
Why we began
The GSMA started out as the GSM MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) Association. This was created to ease cooperation between countries deploying GSM (Global System for Mobile) technology, uphold its standards and support interoperability. So mobile phone users get the best experience possible and industry innovation can thrive.
GSM became the global standard for mobile communications, achieving over 90% of market share across the world.
Today, the GSMA remains at the forefront of facilitating protocols and standards in mobile technology, from 4G and 5G, to 6G and what’s next. It also still helps to foster ingenuity and collaboration through the global MWC series of events, which brings the mobile ecosystem and related industries together.
A timeline of our history
1982
Groupe Speciale Mobile (GSM) is formed by the Confederation of European Posts and Telecommunications (CEPT) to design a pan-European mobile technology.
1984
France and Germany sign a joint development agreement for GSM.
1985
‘GAP’ (Groupe d’Analyse et de Prevision’) meetings take place that lead to the European Commission endorsement of the GSM project.
1986
EU heads of state endorse the GSM project. The European Commission initiative proposes to reserve a 900 MHz spectrum band for GSM, agreed in the EC Telecommunications Council.
Quadripartite agreement is signed between France, Germany, Italy and the UK, along with the cooperation agreement that supports the standards work and exchange research data.
Trials of different digital radio transmission schemes and various speech codecs in several countries, with comparative evaluation by CEPT GSM in Paris.
1987
Basic parameters of the GSM standard are agreed in February.
Four ministers from the quadripartite countries agree a proposal to create an Operator Agreement in the form of a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’. The ‘MoU’ is drawn up and signed in Copenhagen in September, by 15 members from 13 countries that commit to deploying GSM.
1988
Completion of the first set of detailed GSM specifications for infrastructure tendering purposes.
Simultaneous issue of invitation to tender for networks by ten GSM network operators – all subsequently signed in the same year.
1989
Groupe Speciale Mobile (transferred to an European Telecom Standards Institute (ETSI) technical committee) defines the GSM standard as the internationally accepted digital cellular telephony standard.
The UK’s Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) produces a document ‘Phones on the Move’ that first proposes PCN (Personal Communications Networks – later known as DCS 1800 and subsequently GSM 1800) networks to operate in the 1800 MHz frequency band.
1990
GSM adaptation work starts for the DCS1800 band.
1991
First GSM call made by Radiolinja in Finland.
1992
First international roaming agreement signed between Telecom Finland and Vodafone UK.
First SMS sent.
1993
Telstra Australia becomes the first non-European operator to sign the GSM MoU.
32 networks are now on air in 18 countries or territories.
First truly hand portable terminals launch commercially. World’s first DCS1800 (later GSM1800) network opens in the UK.
1994
GSM Phase 2 data/fax bearer services launch.
GSM MoU membership surpasses 100 operators.
GSM connections hit one million.
1995
GSM MoU group is formally registered as the GSM MoU Association in Switzerland.
Global GSM subscribers exceed 10 million.
GSM World Congress is held in Madrid, Spain.
Formation of GSMA Regional Interest Groups (RIGs).
Fax, data and SMS services are started, video over GSM demonstrated.
The first North American PCS 1900 (now GSM 1900) network opens – via a phone call by US Vice President Al Gore.
1996
First GSM networks in Russia and China go live.
Prepaid GSM SIM cards launch.
GSM MoU membership approaches 200 operators from nearly 100 countries.
167 networks live in 94 countries.
GSM World Congress moves to Cannes, France.
GSM subscribers hit 50 million.
GSMA Awards launch.
1997
15 GSM networks are on air in the USA using the 1900 MHz band.
100 countries on air globally.
First tri-band handsets launch.
1998
Global GSM connections surpass 100 million.
1999
WAP trials begin in France and Italy.
Contracts placed for GPRS systems.
2000
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS reach 0.7 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS hit 0.6 billion.
First commercial GPRS services launch.
3G licence auctions begin.
First GPRS handsets enter the market.
Five billion SMS messages are sent in one month.
2001
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 1 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 0.8 billion.
First 3G WCDMA (3GSM) network goes live.
3GSM World Congress held in Cannes, France.
50 billion SMS messages sent in the first three months.
GSM connections exceed 500 million.
First mobile phone colour screens launch.
2002
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 1.2 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 0.9 billion.
GSM introduced for 800 MHz band.
First Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) go live.
95% of nations worldwide have GSM networks.
400 billion SMS messages sent in the year.
First mobile camera phones launch.
2003
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 1.4 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 1.1 billion.
First EDGE networks go live.
The GSMA creates a new CEO-level board.
GSMA membership exceeds 200 countries.
Over half a billion handsets are produced in a year.
2004
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 1.7 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 1.3 billion.
GSM connections surpass 1 billion.
More than 50 WCDMA networks are live.
GSMA and Ovum announce a market-data venture: Wireless Intelligence.
2005
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 2.2 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 1.6 billion.
More than 1.5 billion GSM connections.
GSM accounts for three-quarters of the global mobile market.
First HSDPA network goes live.
Over 100 WCDMA networks launch.
120+ WCDMA handset models launch.
First sub-$30 mobile phone announced.
Over one trillion SMS are sent in the year.
2006
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 2.7 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 1.8 billion.
GSM surpasses 2 billion connections.
Over 120 commercial WCDMA networks are live in more than 50 countries, creating almost 100 million connections.
Approximately 85 HSDPA networks launch commercially by year end.
66 HSDPA devices available from 19 suppliers, including 32 handset models.
GSMA membership exceeds 900 companies (including over 700 operators).
Over 980 million handsets sold.
2007
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 3.4 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 2 billion.
Further HSDPA network launches and introduction of HSUPA.
First GSMA Mobile Asia Congress held in Macau SAR, China.
GSMA celebrates its 20th anniversary.
2008
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 4 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 2.3 billion.
HSPA surpasses 50 million connections.
191 HSPA networks live and 740 HSPA devices available.
More than 55,000 visitors to the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
4G-LTE standards completed.
GSMA passes a resolution enabling LTE operators to join the Association.
2009
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 4.7 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 2.6 billion.
First commercial HSPA+ network launches.
Mobile Asia Congress held in Hong Kong.
First commercial LTE networks launch.
More than 165 million HSPA connections worldwide.
285 HSPA commercial networks supported by more than 1,600 HSPA devices.
2010
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 5.4 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 2.8 billion.
More than 300 million HSPA connections worldwide.
162 HSPA networks and 52 HSPA+ networks live.
17 LTE commercial LTE networks.
1.6 billion worldwide mobile device sales to end users.
2011
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 6 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 3 billion.
More than 60,000 visitors to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Anne Bouverot appointed as Director General of the GSMA.
The GSMA selects Barcelona as the Mobile World Capital.
More than 500 million HSPA connections worldwide.
2012
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 6.5 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 3.2 billion.
GSMA celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Mobile World Congress attracts 67,000 visitors in its final year at Fira de Barcelona Montjuic.
The first Mobile Asia Expo held in Shanghai, China, attracts 15,500 visitors.
20th anniversary of the first SMS message (December 1992).
2013
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 6.8 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 3.5 billion.
Mobile broadband connections surpass 2 billion.
Launch of Mobile World Centre in Barcelona.
Mobile World Congress relocates to Fira Gran Via in Barcelona and attracts a record 72,000 visitors.
20,500 visitors to Mobile Asia Expo 2013.
Launch of GSMA Intelligence.
GSMA launches ‘Mobile 360’ event series.
Telenor President and CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas elected as GSMA chairman.
More than 250 LTE networks live in almost 100 countries.
219 Mobile Money services launch across 84 countries.
2014
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 7.3 billion.
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 3.6 billion.
LTE connections surpass 500 million.
M2M connections surpass 250 million.
85,000 visitors to Mobile World Congress 2014.
26,000 visitors to Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai.
2015
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 7.5 billion
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 4.5 billion
4G connections reach one billion
More than 93,000 visitors to Mobile World Congress 2015
Barcelona confirmed as Mobile World Capital through to 2023
Launch of Humanitarian Connectivity Charter
40,000+ visitors attend first Mobile World Congress, Shanghai
First commercial launches of GSMA Embedded SIM specification (eSIM)
GSMA successfully lobbies for release of additional mobile spectrum at WRC-15
2016
Mats Granryd joins the GSMA as Director General
GLOBAL MOBILE CONNECTIONS: 7.9 billion
UNIQUE SUBSCRIBERS: 4.8 billion
More than 100,000 visitors attend Mobile World Congress 2016
GSMA’s Mobile IoT Initiative drives adoption of standardised LPWA solutions
More than 53,000 visitors to Mobile World Congress Shanghai
GSMA and CTIA partner to launch new Mobile World Congress Americas event
Mobile industry commits to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals
GSMA Mobile Connect available to 3 billion consumers globally
GSMA launches Universal Profile for Advanced Messaging
GSMA publishes its first ‘Mobile Industry Impact Report’ on the SDGs
2017
Sunil Bharti Mittal begins two-year term as GSMA chair
Number of registered mobile money accounts reaches half a billion
More than 108,000 visitors attend Mobile World Congress 2017
The GSMA is certified as carbon neutral for all GSMA events and worldwide offices for 2016
Unique mobile subscribers surpass 5 billion
More than 67,400 visitors to MWC Shanghai
More than 21,000 attendees visit inaugural “Mobile World Congress Americas, in partnership with CTIA”