The idea of the hook was born during the time when the second generation cellular system was looming on the horizon. At that time, the world was divided into three dislincl camps as far as looking for a standard: Europe. North America and japan. It was obvious at the outset that Europe was in favour of a Pan-European Second Generation Cellular System with one standard across Europe, benefiting from the successful Nordic experience. North America with differenî systems as a continuation of the deregulation of thc telecommunicalions ind uslry; And ]apan with a standard which may or may not agree with the North American second generation cellular system. One thing was far from obvious: what would the new cellular system look like?

Every cuncvivable proposal fnr the second generation cellular system was offered: analogue as well as digital systems. a variety of modulation techniques including hybrids. PUMA, TDMA and CDMA multiple access techniques etc. The solutions offered were as diversified as the performance claims made by their advocates were highly controversial. ln parhcular, the spectral efficiency figures given for various proposals were highly debatable. A glubal standard dcfinilion or measure For the spectral efficiency of cellular syslewns was lacking. Furthemmre, different people used different parameters and methods to assess the spectral efficiency!