What is the full form of GSM

GSM: Global System for Mobile communication

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile communication. It is a standard developed by European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe protocols for second generation (2G) digital cellular networks. It was a replacement for the first generation (1G) cellular networks.

GSM is a digital cellular radio network operating in over 200 countries worldwide. It covers almost complete western Europe and growing in America and Asia. It is not only used for voice calls, it can also be used for data computing. An user can connect his GSM-enabled phone with his laptop to send or receive e-mails, faxes, browse internet, check security etc.

Data applications supported by GSM

GSM provides following functionalities when you connect your GSM phone with a computer system.

Internet: GSM provides the most ubiquitous and robust wireless data connectivity to access the internet.

Mobile Fax: With GSM, you can send and receive faxes to any place where GSM service is available.

Secured LAN access: GSM provides secured access for corporate LAN. It encrypts the air links and provides additional security for confidential e-mails and faxes.

Advantages of GSM

• Since GSM service is obtained over 200 countries, so it provides worldwide roaming for its clients to roam throughout the world.
• GSM is extremely secured because its devices and facilities cannot be easily duplicated.
• It has an extensive coverage in all over the world.

Disadvantages of GSM

• The biggest disadvantage of GSM is that multiple users share the same bandwidth. This may cause interference and due to interference bandwidth limitation occurs.
• The other disadvantage of GSM is that it may cause electronic interference. That is the reason why sensitive locations like hospitals and airplanes require cell phone to be turned off otherwise it can create interference with the equipments of hospitals and airplanes.