5G accelerates 3GPP membership to 700 companies

3GPP, the industry alliance working on mobile network standards, announced its membership has grown to 700 companies around the world. That compares to 350 when it first launched in 1998 to work on GSM standards. 

The group said in a statement that the advent of 5G and its new possibilities beyond smartphones had led to many new companies joining in recent years. New members in 2016-2019 were double the number in the previous ten-year period when 4G was developed. 

Since the start of 2020, another 13 companies have joined from a variety of sectors, including network and cyber security, satellites, AI specialists, civil defence and some traditional mobile equipment manufacturers, according to Telecompaper.