The best example of the benefits of a global broadband standard can be found in the early decision by European cellular carriers to adopt the global system for mobile communications (GSM). This standard eventually caught on in many regions from Asia to the Middle East and Africa. It is in many ways the de-facto international standard for cellular service. This commonality of a standard resulted in very rapid adoption of cellular wireless service as well as strong innovation and progressive product offers by carriers, ranging from using one’s cell phone to pay for vending machine products to short message service (SMS) products.

In the US, the relatively fragmented technology environment with three primary competing technologies has prevented intercarrier roaming onto disparate networks. It also resulted in higher costs for service and phone products (which have to be re-configured by vendors to work on various technologies).

A global standard simplifies the equipment vendor process, reduces costs, speeds customer acceptance and adoption and encourages faster product and service innovation.