The Global ISDN Industry Forum is a relatively new organization however its roots go back to the very beginnings of ISDN services in Europe. In 1989 a group of European PTTs jointly signed an agreement committing each to the introduction of ISDN services in their geographic region. This paper, sanctioned by the European Commission and known as the ISDN Memorandum of Understanding, has been instrumental in getting the ISDN market in Europe to the "critical volume" stage and for laying the foundation for a truly global ISDN network of networks.

In subsequent years the ISDN MoU Implementation Management Group (IMIMG), expanding to 32 network operators from around the globe, scored some notable successes such as the ISDN distributed exhibition events, "EURIE 93" and "Global 95", both events being supported by a "Euro-ISDN" handbook. Behind the scenes work has ensured that technical inter-working problems have been tackled early and the encouragement of new operators, both inside and outside Europe has resulted in a truly global collaboration. It was agreed at the final meeting of the IMIMG at Sophia-Antipolis that the work of the group should be opened up to the whole ISDN industry and that the time was right for the Global ISDN Industry Forum.

The GIIF (Global ISDN Industry Forum) was born in December 1997, and established as a Non-profit oriented industry forum at its Inaugural Meeting in July 1998. The Board of Directors has created a structure for the organization to continue the efforts on the programs that were identified as crucial to the future growth of Global ISDN including marketing, promotion, one stop shopping, CPE standards and applications development. The GIIF provides all ISDN stakeholders regular opportunities to further the development of ISDN on a world-wide basis. The Global ISDN Industry Forum will admit all ISDN stakeholders as members on an equal basis, which will then co-operate to pursue the purpose and objectives of the GIIF. The Constitution of the Global ISDN Industry Forum was voted on and accepted by its members at the Arizona Summit in December 1998.