The term 'packet radio' has been around since around 1982. What began as tentative attempts by interested specialists on the 2m band has evolved into a global data network for amateur radio.

. The term "packet radio" was coined in late 1981 in Tucson, Arizona. A group of radio amateurs formed TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) and planned to establish a local data network using amateur radio frequencies. The English spelling (packet radio) has become internationally accepted.