It allows the major regional architectures to evolve to the IMT-2000 architecture so that regional networks can coexist and interwork. In Europe, GSM, known as Global System for Mobile Communications, is the standard for digital cellular phone service. There are also GSM standards for the higher PCS bands. This role requires coordination within committee TR-45 as well as between other standards developing organizations such as Committee T1, sponsored by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions. Companies like Ericsson Inc., are now marketing their wideband CDMA idea.
Spectrum availability can be an issue for any technology that aims for worldwide acceptance.
It is the need for advanced features, improved wireless data and increased system capacity services which has played a crucial role in driving the evolution of cellular standards. The ITU-R has been and could continue to be the main driver for defining next generation systems standards in the years to come. First-generation refers to the analog systems that were implemented and developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Second-generation arrived in the United States with the implementation of digital cellular systems in the 1990s. The digital standards have been vital in reducing equipment costs, increasing system capacity and improvement of call quality and service availability.