What does GSM mean?

GSM refers to the Global System for Mobile Communications.

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a digital mobile communication standard formulated by ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Organization. Its air interface adopts time division multiple access technology. Since it was put into commercial use in the mid-1990s, it has been adopted by more than 100 countries in the world.

The ubiquity of GSM standard makes it common for users to roam internationally after signing a "roaming agreement" between mobile phone operators. The biggest difference between GSM and previous standards is that its signaling and voice channels are digital, so GSM is regarded as the second generation mobile phone system.

Technical characteristics of GSM

1, open interface

The open interface provided by GSM standard is not limited to air interface, but also includes interfaces between networks and between equipment entities in networks, such as Abis interface.

2. Safety

Through authentication, encryption and the use of TMSI numbers, the purpose of security is achieved. Authentication is used to verify users' network access rights. The air interface uses encryption, which is determined by the key of SIM card and network AUC. TMSI is a temporary identification number assigned to users by commercial networks to prevent people from tracking and exposing their geographical location.