Industry consortia in mobile telecommunications standards setting: Purpose, organization and diversity

In mobile telecommunications, numerous formal and quasi-formal standard setting organizations (SSOs) exist that are dedicated to technology standardization. Yet, hundreds of more or less informal industry consortia have been established also deal with technical standards. Some these aim develop standards themselves – thus compete existing, while others complement existing relate them in other ways. Based on a novel dataset covering 100 the field telecommunications as well interviews, we explore understand role diversity standards-related consortia. We investigate their purpose, functioning, members’ motives, position they occupy standardization landscape, way interact setting. On basis our analysis, propose taxonomy consisting six groups: large influencers, high-level concept developers, young specialists, small SSO-hosted drivers. believe resulting be relevant for researchers, practitioners policymakers alike. It sheds light intricate landscape consortia, offers transparency peculiarities organizations. Hence, it can build an evaluation potential memberships policies regulations.