GSM hits one billion users

3G Americas reports 100% annual growth for GSM in 2003, giving GSM by far the largest percentage gain of any wireless technology in the Western Hemisphere. Based on data from EMC, GSM is outpacing all other wireless technologies in Latin America, increasing its subscriber base by nearly 150% in 2003, almost six times more growth than the next most popular wireless technology. The rapid deployment of GSM/GPRS on a nationwide basis in Canada and the U.S. contributed to GSM’s 77% growth in the North American market in 2003. GSM is the number one technology choice by new customers throughout North, Central and South America. Thus, the Americas have a growing presence in the global GSM community that now numbers one billion customers in the milestone announced today by leading GSM organizations and manufacturers in Cannes including 3G Americas, GSM Association, UMTS Forum, Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel Networks and Siemens.