A proposed upgrade to the hardware for the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) packet-switched wireless mobile data service. Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) is designed to provide mobile users with wireless roaming data services of up to 400 Kbps.
EDGE can be deployed by many Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) providers as an upgrade for existing GSM systems within the GSM Phase 2+ initiative, which is planned for the years 2000–2001.
GSM networks do not require new network elements to implement EDGE, although some hardware and software upgrades will be required.
EDGE uses a different modulation technique called phase-shift keying that allows it to provide higher data rates than existing GSM systems over reduced areas of coverage.
EDGE can be deployed on both circuit-switched and packet-switched cellular services. In North America, EDGE can be deployed by Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) cellular providers under the IS-136 standard. Initial test deployments are planned for the year 2000.