Software radio technology: a European perspective

Software radio has emerged as a priority theme of research in Europe. This tutorial review provides a European perspective on technical and commercial issues in the field. Significant differences exist between North American and European views of software radio in personal communications services. This article explains the reasons for these differences. It explains how the European marketplace is influencing short-term directions taken in the commercialization of software radio technology initially at the application layer. Some research is related to handset architectures and to generic RF and digital technologies focused on third-generation systems-Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems. Software base stations, including their synergies with adaptive (often now termed soft) antennas are also addressed