Skip to main content.
The GSMA unites the world’s mobile ecosystem, from operators and manufacturers to governments and tech innovators. Since 1982, it has defined global mobile standards – including 4G, 5G, and the emerging 6G era – enabling billions of people to connect and communicate.
Beyond its technical leadership, the GSMA fosters collaboration and progress through its MWC events – the world’s most influential events for the mobile and digital industries, with over 109,000 industry professionals attending the flagship MWC Barcelona in 2025.
Having added more events to the series – in Shanghai, Las Vegas, Kigali, and now Doha – the GSMA and MWC connect innovation with opportunity to help businesses accelerate growth through connected technology.
Below is a ten-part timeline highlighting major milestones from 1982 to 2025, spotlighting growth, innovation and the expanding role of the Middle East in the global mobile story.
1982
Groupe Spéciale Mobile (GSM) forms under CEPT to design a unified European mobile system.
1987
GSM Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed by 15 operators.
1991
The world’s first GSM call is made in Finland – a landmark for digital communication.
Impact: GSM lays the foundation for modern mobile connectivity, setting standards that will later reach the Middle East and every corner of the world.
1992
First international roaming between Finland and the UK; first SMS sent.
1995
GSM World Congress launches – the forerunner to today’s MWC events.
1996
GSM networks go live in Russia and China, expanding eastward.
Impact: By 1996, over 50 million GSM subscribers globally – the start of mobile’s mass adoption.
1999–2000
Mobile internet (WAP, GPRS) launches; first camera phones appear.
2001
3G networks go live, enabling data-rich communication.
2003
GSMA membership surpasses 200 countries.
Impact: The 3GSM World Congress becomes the global hub for mobile innovation – a platform soon to evolve into today’s MWC series.
GSM connections surpass 1 billion in 2004.
2005–2008
MWC attracts tens of thousands to Barcelona, while 4G-LTE standards are completed.
GSMA launches regional events in Asia, setting the stage for future global expansion.
In the Middle East: Early MENA operators adopt GSM rapidly, helping accelerate regional digital transformation.
2009
LTE (4G) networks launch commercially.
2013
GSMA launches the Mobile 360 event series – creating regional conferences to address local priorities.
Impact: The mobile economy grows to 6.8 billion connections, with MENA mobile adoption rising steadily. The foundation for M360 MENA begins here.
2014
As part of MWC Barcelona, the 4YFN event launches to support startups.
2015
MENA region reaches 334 million unique subscribers; GSMA's Mobile Asia Expo renamed Mobile World Congress Shanghai.
2017
GSMA events certified carbon neutral; global subscribers surpass 5 billion.
Impact: Growing MENA markets become integral to GSMA’s global membership and outreach.
2018
GSMA launches humanitarian and digital inclusion programmes focusing on how connected tech can enable lower- and middle-income countries to thrive.
2019
Impact: MENA takes a leadership position in next-generation connectivity.
2020
MWC pivots to digital engagement during COVID-19 epidemic.
2021–2022
MWC in-person draws tens of thousands of physical and virtual attendees.
2022
MWC Africa becomes MWC Kigali, focusing on development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Impact: GSMA shows global resilience and recommits to bridging the digital divide.
2023
GSMA launches M360 MENA, with the inaugural event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
2024
Impact: M360 MENA becomes a new platform for regional collaboration, aligning with the Middle East’s role as a global tech hub.
2025
Vision: The GSMA’s story continues — from defining global standards to empowering digital innovation across the Middle East and beyond.
From a European research group to a global community of innovators,
the GSMA and its MWC event series have transformed how the world connects.
Now the Middle East stands at the heart of the next chapter in the evolution of mobile technologies.
