Base Station Industry Associations

3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
3GPP was created in December 1998 by the signing of the “The 3rd Generation Partnership Project Agreement”. Its original scope was to produce Technical Specifications and Technical Reports for a 3G Mobile System based on evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies that they support (i.e., Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) modes).

The scope was subsequently amended to include the maintenance and development of the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) Technical Specifications and Technical Reports including evolved radio access technologies (e.g. General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) and Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE). Find out more.

Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2)
3GPP2 is a collaborative third generation (3G) telecommunications specifications-setting project, comprising North American and Asian interests developing global specifications for ANSI/TIA/EIA-41 Cellular Radio telecommunication Intersystem Operations network evolution to 3G and global specifications for the radio transmission technologies (RTTs) supported by ANSI/TIA/EIA-41.

3GPP2 was born out of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) International Mobile Telecommunications “IMT-2000” initiative, covering high speed, broadband, and Internet Protocol (IP)-based mobile systems featuring network-to-network interconnection, feature/service transparency, global roaming and seamless services independent of location. IMT-2000 is intended to bring high-quality mobile multimedia telecommunications to a worldwide mass market by achieving the goals of increasing the speed and ease of wireless communications, responding to the problems faced by the increased demand to pass data via telecommunications, and providing “anytime, anywhere” services. Find out more.

3G Americas
3G Americas unites mobile operators and manufacturers in the Americas to provide a single voice to represent the GSM family of wireless technologies — GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and UMTS/HSDPA. 3G Americas is committed to working with regulatory bodies, technical standards bodies and other global wireless organizations in order to promote truly seamless interoperability and convergence. These relationships include Market Representation Partner for 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), membership in CITEL (Inter-American Telecommunications Commission), collaborative working agreements with the GSM Association, UMTS Forum, and ASETA (Association of Telecommunications Enterprises of the Andean Community). Find out more.

CDMA Development Group (CDG)
Founded in December 1993, is an international consortium of service providers and manufacturers, application developers and content providers who have joined together to lead the adoption and evolution of 3G CDMA wireless systems around the world.

The CDG and its members work together to: accelerate the definition of requirements for new CDMA features, services and applications; promote industry and public awareness of CDMA; foster collaboration and the development of consensus among carriers on critical issues; define the evolution path for current and next-generation CDMA systems; establish strategic relationships with government ministries, regulatory bodies, and worldwide standards and industry organizations; serve as a worldwide resource for CDMA-related information; minimize time-to-market for new CDMA-based products and services; enable global compatibility and interoperability among CDMA systems worldwide; and make CDMA the preferred choice of operators and end users. Find out more.

 

CTIA-The Wireless Association®
CTIA-The Wireless Association®, is an international nonprofit membership organization founded in 1984, representing all sectors of wireless communications: cellular, personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio.

The organization represents service providers, manufacturers, wireless data and internet companies, as well as other contributors to the wireless universe. CTIA advocates on their behalf before the Executive Branch, the Federal Communications Commission, Congress, and state regulatory and legislative bodies. CTIA also coordinates the industry’s voluntary efforts to bring consumers a wide variety of choices and information regarding their wireless service, and supports important industry initiatives such as Wireless AMBER Alerts, and the “When it comes to Wireless, Safety is Your Call” safe driving public service announcement campaign. Find out more.

Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA)
GSA represents leading GSM/3G suppliers worldwide, engaged in infrastructure and support of semiconductors, devices, services and applications. The website www.gsacom.com was used in the past year by over 54,500 professionals from 197 countries providing a single information resource targeted for the industry, including surveys, market/technology/subscriptions updates, information papers, GSM/EDGE-WCDMA/HSPA network deployments, devices availability, applications/services, case studies, success stories, HSPA+ and LTE/SAE.

GSA advises governments/administrations and policy-makers on optimum conditions for market development. Briefings are given to media and analysts. Additional resources and opportunities are available for member companies. Find out more.

GSM Association (GSMA)
Founded in 1987, GSMA is a global trade association representing more than 750 GSM mobile phone operators across 219 countries and territories of the world. In addition, more than 210 (numbers taken from the online brochure) manufacturers and suppliers support the Association’s initiatives as associate members.

The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers. The Association’s members represent more than 3 billion GSM and 3GSM connections — over 86% of the world’s mobile phone connections. Find out more.

Subsidiary site: High Speed Packet Access (HSPA)  HSPA comprises HSDPA, HSUPA and HSPA Evolved, defining the migration path of 3GSM/W-CDMA operators worldwide. It is the credible choice for operators wanting to offer mobile broadband services to both urban and rural consumer and enterprise users. Find out more.

TD-SCDMA
TD-SCDMA Forum is the government endorsed organizer of the yearly China TD-SCDMA International Summit, the highest level TD-SCDMA conference globally. The Forum was admitted by the 3GPP as its MRP (Market Representative Partner) in 2005. The Forum also signed partnership agreements with major international telecom organizations, such as GSMA and CDG. The Forum now has over 400 members from more than 30 countries covering all sectors of the value chain, including standardization agents, operators, vendors, content providers, financial and investment organizations, and research institutions. Find out more.

 

Subsidiary site: TD-SCDMA Industry Alliance The TD-SCDMA Industry Alliance is a social organization formed by the enterprises and government-sponsored institutions who actively commit themselves to the cause of TD-SCDMA and engage themselves in R&D, production, manufacture and service of the TD-SCDMA standard and products in China. Alliance members have agreed that by focusing on TD-SCDMA technologies they will coordinate, supervise and manage the industry, promote the resource sharing and supplement between enterprises for mutual benefit, speed up the pace of industry development, improve industry strategies and advise the Chinese government on the adoption of important industry policies. Find out more.

WCA International (WCAI)
Founded in 1988, the Wireless Communications Association International (WCAI) is an international, non-profit, technology-neutral trade association serving the wireless broadband industry. Its member companies on six continents represent the bulk of the sector’s leading carriers, vendors and consultants.

The WCAI’s mission is to advance the interests of the wireless carriers that provide high-speed data, Internet, voice and video services on broadband spectrum through land-based systems using reception/transmit devices in all broadband spectrum bands. The WCAI is an established leader in government relations, technology standards and industry event sponsorship. Find out more.

WIMAX Forum
The WiMAX Forum® is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization formed to certify and promote the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based upon the harmonized IEEE 802.16/ETSI HiperMAN standard. A WiMAX Forum goal is to accelerate the introduction of these systems into the marketplace. WiMAX Forum Certified™ products are fully interoperable and support broadband fixed, portable and mobile services. Along these lines, the WiMAX Forum works closely with service providers and regulators to ensure that WiMAX Forum Certified systems meet customer and government requirements.

The WiMAX Forum® has more than 522 members comprising the majority of operators, component and equipment companies in the WiMAX communications ecosystem. Find out more.