What are Telecommunications Industry Organizations?

Diameter is a protocol that was introduced to support data in telecommunications networks. Many industry standards bodies play a significant role in the development of Diameter protocol, and while this list is not exhaustive, it provides information and links to some of the most notable organizations.

The GSM Association (GSMA)

The GSMA is the global trade group for the mobile industry, representing the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators with more than 230 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organizations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as the Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)

The 3GPP unites six telecommunications standards bodies, known as “Organizational Partners” and provides their members with a stable environment to produce the highly successful Reports and Specifications that define 3GPP technologies.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2)

The 3GPP2 is a collaborative, third-generation (3G) telecommunications specifications-setting project born out of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) International Mobile Telecommunications “IMT-2000″ initiative. IMT-2000 is intended to bring high-quality mobile multimedia telecommunications to a worldwide mass market by achieving the goals of increasing the speed and ease of wireless communications, responding to the problems faced by the increased demand to pass data via telecommunications, and providing “anytime, anywhere” services.

MultiService Forum (MSF)

The MSF is a global association of service providers, system suppliers, and test equipment vendors committed to developing and promoting open-architecture, multiservice next-generation networks. Founded in 1998, the MSF is an open-membership organization comprised of the world’s leading telecommunications companies. The MSF’s activities include developing implementation agreements, promoting worldwide compatibility and interoperability of network elements, and encouraging input to appropriate national and international standards bodies.

Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)

OMA is the focal point for the development of mobile service enabler specifications, which support the creation of interoperable end-to-end mobile services. OMA drives service enabler architectures and open enabler interfaces that are independent of the underlying wireless networks and platforms. OMA creates interoperable mobile data service enablers that work across devices, service providers, operators, networks, and geographies. Toward that end, OMA will develop test specifications, encourage third-party tool development, and conduct test activities that allow vendors to test their implementations.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)

ETSI produces globally-applicable standards for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), including fixed, mobile, radio, converged, broadcast, and Internet technologies. ETSI is a not-for-profit organization with more than 700 ETSI member organizations drawn from 62 countries across 5 continents worldwide.

Telecom and Internet Converged Services & Protocols for Advanced Networking (TISPAN)

Since its creation in 2003, ETSI TISPAN has been the key standardization body in creating the next generation networks (NGN) specifications.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strives to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.