GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications.

It was originally named after the committee that worked on it, called Groups Spécial Mobile.

GSM was a European standard for early digital mobile networks, meaning that mobile phone users could use their phones across the whole of Europe without having to buy a new handset in every country.

A key feature of GSM was the Subscriber Identity Module, commonly known as a SIM card.

The Nokia 1011 was the first mass produced GSM mobile phone, and worked in 14 countries when it was released.