The 2G (Second Generation) Mobile Communications Technology Standards

Based on the experience of the NMT standardization, some actors that had been involved in the NMT standardization (e.g., Ericsson) heavily participated in the standardization of a 2G mobile communications technology. They were successfully able to standardize the technology they pursued as the European mobile telecommunications technology standard. Considering all these European actors’ early efforts, it was not a surprise that the GSM standard (the European 2G mobile communications technology standard) expanded its territory. The surprise came from the evolution of CDMA. How could the late entrant, Qualcomm, be able to create and expand the CDMA market? This chapter reveals not only fiery competitions among actors to standardize GSM and CDMA but also conflicts between GSM and CDMA camps as a group.