The moving interface between digital and analog circuits and its effect on future wireless systems

The tendency over the last few decades has been for more and more of the analog front end of transmitters and receivers to be taken over by digital components. While some suggest that eventually the entire analog front end will be replaced by digital components (or even a truly software radio) we argue in this paper that it is unlikely that this will occur in the near future. We then identify key analog components that are difficult, if not impossible, to replace and discuss what is likely to occur on both the analog and digital side of the interface in the near future.