Editing GSM (section)

=== Enhancements ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}
Work began in 1991 to expand the GSM standard to the 1800&nbsp;MHz frequency band and the first 1800&nbsp;MHz network became operational in the UK by 1993, called the DCS 1800. Also that year, [[Telstra]] became the first network operator to deploy a GSM network outside Europe and the first practical hand-held GSM [[mobile phone]] became available.

In 1995 fax, data and SMS messaging services were launched commercially, the first 1900&nbsp;MHz GSM network became operational in the United States and GSM subscribers worldwide exceeded 10 million. In the same year, the [[GSM Association]] formed. Pre-paid GSM SIM cards were launched in 1996 and worldwide GSM subscribers passed 100 million in 1998.<ref name=gsmworld_history />

In 2000 the first commercial [[General Packet Radio Service]] (GPRS) services were launched and the first GPRS-compatible handsets became available for sale. In 2001, the first UMTS (W-CDMA) network was launched, a 3G technology that is not part of GSM. Worldwide GSM subscribers exceeded 500 million. In 2002, the first [[Multimedia Messaging Service]] (MMS) was introduced and the first GSM network in the 800&nbsp;MHz frequency band became operational. [[Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution]] (EDGE) services first became operational in a network in 2003, and the number of worldwide GSM subscribers exceeded 1 billion in 2004.<ref name=gsmworld_history />

By 2005 GSM networks accounted for more than 75% of the worldwide cellular network market, serving 1.5 billion subscribers. In 2005, the first [[HSDPA]]-capable network also became operational. The first [[HSUPA]] network launched in 2007. ([[High Speed Packet Access]] (HSPA) and its uplink and downlink versions are 3G technologies, not part of GSM.) Worldwide GSM subscribers exceeded three billion in 2008.<ref name=gsmworld_history />