Insertion of Ga2O3 in sodium metaphosphate glasses has been investigated in this paper. Materials containing up to 30 mol% of Ga2O3 have been prepared using the standard melt-quenching technique within the xGa(2)O(3)-(100 - x)NaPO3 composition line. Macroscopic properties (glass transition temperature, density and molar volume) are significantly affected by the Ga2O3 insertion. 1D Ga-71 and P-31 magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) performed at very high field (18.8 T) indicate a strong evolution of the gallium coordination state around the x = 15 composition and a continuous evolution of the phosphate network organisation. In addition, Ga-71(P-31) D-HMQC NMR technique was used for the first time to highlight the presence of mixed P-O-Ga linkages within the glass structure. The impact of gallium insertion is finally discussed and compared to the effect of the widely used aluminum and boron elements. If gallium and aluminum elements present similar effect on the macroscopic properties, some discrepancies can be observed concerning their structural effect. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.