| Used with the permission of Finland's national public service broadcasting company, YLE. Harri Holkeri, then prime minister of Finland, makes the world's first GSM call on 1 July 1991 from Esplanadi Park, Helsinki, Finland. The network was built by Telenokia and Siemens - today's Nokia Siemens Networks - for the Finnish operator Radiolinja that now operates under the name Elisa. Today, there are over 4.4 billion GSM mobile subscriptions. GSM is the fastest growing technology in history. TRANSCRIPT PUBLIC ANNOUNCER This is the first GSM call over a private operator network It goes to Vice Mayor Kaarina Suonio in Tampere We can all hear it via loudspeakers This is exciting. No noise on the line. The GSM network is free of background noise. We are waiting for the reply SUONIO Hello? HOLKERI Vice Mayor Suonio? SUONIO Yes HOLKERI I'm calling from Helsinki, wishing you a good summer SUONIO Is it Harri? HOLKERI Yes. We are making history. I'm calling with the new GSM network; we are the first to speak over it SUONIO I can hear you very well HOLKERI It is noise-free, like speaking to a neighbour SUONIO How much does this differ from a normal call? HOLKERI You know it SUONIO Yes, viewers can hear us. GSM is safe, nobody can listen-in to it. HOLKERI Correct. GSM is noise-free, it is the safest and the most economical network SUONIO It is great that you have only a SIM-card that you can change it to any phone in the system and make it your own HOLKERI You've learned this well It ... |
