What is GSM Standard? And how GSM had an Upswing over CDMA?

Posted by ryan on October 4th, 2019

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications and the most significant thing to know about it is that it is an international standard. If you travel in US, Europe or any other part in the world, GSM is the only type of cellular service available. And this is the reason; GSM standard is the most popular cell phone standard, especially when compared to CDMA.

However, commercial service using the GSM standard did not actually kicked off until 1991. And instead of using analog service, GSM was developed as a digital system using the TDMA technology. According to GSM Association (GSMA), that actually exemplifies the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, it is estimated that 80% of the world uses the GSM technology when making wireless calls.

How GSM Works?

Physically, a GSM network comprises primarily of connected devices like gateways, repeaters, and relays. These are actually the massive metal structures that stand as high towers. A GSM network is basically a cellular network; connecting cells i.e. the small areas covered by the towers. Mobile devices connect to the closest tower, which in turn connects to others. These connections ultimately provide the communication and location services that we use today in our daily lives. The cellular network also supports 3G, 4G, and the emerging 5G technologies, all of which carry data and provide seamless internet connectivity.

GSM vs CDMA

Talking about pragmatic and everyday use, GSM offers its users wider international roaming capabilities than other US network technologies and can allow a cell phone to become a world phone. Moreover, things like swapping phones and using data while on a call is only supported with GSM networks and not with CDMA.

GSM carriers come with roaming contracts with other GSM carriers and typically encompass the rural areas completely than competing with the CDMA carriers, and often without any roaming charges.

Also, GSM comes with an advantage of easily swappable SIM cards. GSM phones utilize the SIM card to save your information like your phone number and any other data that proves that you are a subscriber to that particular carrier. However, with CDMA phones, the SIM card doesn’t stores much information. It is your identity that is tied to the CDMA and not the phone. Hence, swapping CDMA SIM cards doesn’t activate the device the same way.

To conclude, GSM provides standard features like phone call encryption, data networking, caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, conferencing, and SMS. This cellular technology works in the 1900 MHz band in the US and 900 MHz band in Europe and Asia.