July 2004:
100 EDGE deployments worldwide

The next generation of data heading towards third generation and personal multimedia environments builds on GPRS and is known as Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE). 

It will allow GSM operators to use existing GSM radio bands to offer wireless multimedia IP-based services and applications at theoretical maximum speeds of 384 kbps with a bit-rate of 48 kbps per timeslot and up to 69.2 kbps per timeslot in good radio conditions. 

Vendors say that implementing EDGE will be relatively painless and will require relatively small changes to network hardware and software as it uses the same TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) frame structure, logic channel and 200 kHz carrier bandwidth as today's GSM networks. 

As EDGE progresses to coexistence with 3G WCDMA, data rates of up to ATM-like speeds of 2 Mbps could be available. 

Groups from the two camps have been working on ways to converge their 3G plans, with the result that operators using either standard can roll out GPRS packet-based high-speed networks, together with EDGE as a radio interface. 

GERAN
GERAN is a term used to describe a GSM and EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) based 200 kHz radio access network. 

The GERAN is based on GSM/EDGE Release 99, and covers all new features for GSM Release 2000 and subsequent releases, with full backward compatibility to previous releases.