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1982 - The Beginning
Nordic Telecom and Netherlands PTT propose to CEPT (Conference of European Post and Telecommunications) the development of a new digital cellular standard that would cope with the ever a burgeoning demands on European mobile networks.
The European Commission (EC) issues a directive which requires member states to reserve frequencies in the 900 MHz band for GSM to allow for roaming.
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1986
Main GSM radio transmission techniques are chosen
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1987
September - 13 operators and administrators from 12 areas in the CEPT GSM advisory group sign the charter GSM (Groupe Sp嶰iale Mobile) MoU "Club" agreement, with a launch date of 1 July 1991.
The original French name was later changed to Global System for Mobile Communications, but the original GSM acronym stuck.
GSM spec drafted.
1989
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) defined GSM as the internationally accepted digital cellular telephony standard
GSM becomes an ETSI technical committee
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1990
Phase 1 GSM 900 specifications are frozen
DCS adaptation starts
Validation systems implemented
First GSM World congress in Rome with 650 Participants
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1991
First GSM spec demonstrated
DCS specifications are frozen
GSM World Congress Nice has 690 Participants
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1992
January - First GSM network operator is Oy Radiolinja Ab in Finland
December 1992 - 13 networks on air in 7 areas
GSM World Congress Berlin - 630 Participants
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1993
GSM demonstrated for the first time in Africa at Telkom '93 in Cape Town
Roaming agreements between several operators established
December 1993 - 32 networks on air in 18 areas
GSM World Congress Lisbon with 760 Participants
Telkom '93 held in Cape Town. First GSM systems shown.
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1994
First GSM networks in Africa launched in South Africa
Phase 2 data/fax bearer services launched
Vodacom becomes first GSM network in the world to implement data/fax
GSM World Congress Athens with 780 Participants
December 1994 - 69 networks on air in 43 areas
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1995
GSM MoU is formally registered as an Association registered in Switzerland - 156 members from 86 areas.
GSM World Congress Madrid with 1400 Participants
December 1995 117 networks on air in 69 areas
Fax, data and SMS roaming started
GSM phase 2 standardization is completed, including adaptation for PCS 1900 (PCS)
First PCS 1900 network live 'on air' in the USA
Telecom '95 Geneva - Nokia shows 33.6 kbps multimedia data via GSM
Namibia goes on-line
Ericsson 337 wins GSM phone of the year
US FCC auctions off PCS licenses
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1996
GSM MoU is formally registered as an Association registered in Switzerland
December 1996 120 networks on air in 84 areas
GSM World Congress in Cannes
GSM MoU Plenary held in Atlanta GA, USA
8K SIM launched
Pre-Paid GSM SIM Cards launched
Bundled billing introduced in South Africa
Libya goes on-line
Option International launches world's first GSM/Fixed-line modem
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1997
Zimbabwe goes live
GSM World Congress Cannes 21/2/97
Mozambique goes live
Iridium birds launched
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1998
Botswana goes live
GSM World Congress Cannes
Vodacom Introduces Free VoiceMail
MTN Gets Uganda Tender
Over 2m GSM 1900 users
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Reference：http://www.cellular.co.za/）