What is GSM, DCS, PCN, PCS?
GSM is “Global System for Mobile”, which is an open specification owned by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Originally, GSM was intended for use at 900 MHz. DCS, or DCS-1800, is an extension to the GSM specification that allows it to be used at 1800 MHz. PCN, standing for “Personal Communications Network”, was a term used by the Department of Trade and Industry when they issued licences for the 1800 MHz band in the UK. The two resulting PCN networks (Orange and T-Mobile) used the DCS-1800 specification, with minor modifications in the case of Orange. PCS, or “Personal Communications System”, is a North American term, usually referring to the 1900 MHz spectrum auctioned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during 1994-96. Some PCS networks are based on a North American variant of the GSM specification, initially called PCS-1900. Other PCS networks use CDMA and other standards. ETSI now encourages the use of the generic term GSM, for all networks base
