It traces its history back to a memorandum of understanding signed in 1987 by 13 operators in 12 countries that committed to deploying GSM for mobile services.

[3][failed verification] Full membership of the GSMA is open to licensed mobile operators using a GSM family technology.

[6][7] The GSMA manages industry programmes in collaboration with its members with the aim of achieving scale and interoperability for new mobile technologies.

[8][need quotation to verify] The GSMA represents the mobile industry to governments and institutions where it advocates policy and regulatory positions on behalf of its members.

[17] The GSMA is the global administrator of Type Allocation Code (TAC), which is used to create the International Mobile Equipment Identity number that can uniquely identify wireless devices.