Telecom Body Opened For Manufacturers

The GSM MoU Association opened its membership to the manufacturing and supplier industry yesterday. Until now, the MoU comprised network operators, regulators and administrative members.

The GSM MoU is a grouping of telecom operators deploying the GSM (global system for mobile communications) digital standard.

Richard Midgett, chairman of the MoU, said the decision to induct equipment suppliers was the most important of the 40th plenary meeting of the GSM MoU. The session began in Delhi on Tuesday with the announcement that 35 new members had joined the group. This included applicants from nine countries that previously had not offered GSM services, Midgett said.

All members of the MoU ratified a proposal to open the grouping's doors to the GSM manufacturing and supplier industry, according to the MoU association. The move "will provide all GSM players an opportunity to have input and access to technical development and promotion of GSM," a press release said.

Midgett said the GSM MoU had set in place a "voluntary certification process" for approval of telecom equipment and subscriber terminal equipment, mostly handsets. The facility will help operators check the quality and features of handsets in a certification process akin to that conducted by the government and regulatory agencies.

"The GSM world simply continues to grow," said Midgett. "We have expanded by more than 70 new members in 1998 alone. This is a clear reflection of the continued market buoyancy and levels of investor confidence in GSM technology throughout the world."

On the move to induct players from the GSM manufacturing and supplier industry, Midgett said, "Our membership has agreed to the instigation of a new Associate Membership category. It paves the way for GSM players of the world to participate in the development of our world leading technology as it evolves towards the next generation of mobile communications.

"The proposal is driven by our members' desire to instigate closer co-operation with the GSM supplier community, ensuring that we pool our vast expertise and resources leading to a new a era of solution-driven development for GSM.

"We have always recognised the valuable contribution of GSM suppliers and manufacturers in the creation and development of products supporting the GSM standard. We now have crystallised that recognition by creating a body which ensures that all players will have a share of the voice in discussions as well as an alignment of mutual purpose."

The GSM MoU is currently drawing up the new category membership agreement and aims to accept applications in early 1999. By the end of October, it is forecast that GSM-based wireless telecom services will account for 120 million customers. This is 60 per cent of the total market for digital wireless services. Currently, there are 296 GSM networks operating commercial services, according to the MoU.