US : Pioneer Consulting’s Aditya Kaul, Senior Analyst Emerging Wireless Technologies, gave a headline paper at the SDR Forum’s Technical Conference 2007 which mapped out a path to commercialization of Software Defined Radio, beginning by 2012. Recognizing the significance of Kaul’s paper, the conference’s Organizing Committee invited him to present it during the conference Plenary Session.

Pioneer Consulting believes that the catalyst for SDR’s transition from military to commercial applications will be the development of Multiprotocol Multiband (MPMB) support in the wireless market coinciding with the expected adoption of synergistic 4G wireless technologies, such as LTE, Mobile WiMAX and UMB by 2012.

From there, Pioneer projects that MPMB support will move from base stations to mobile handsets, driven by the need to deal with an increasing mix of wireless standards. The fact that development and marketing cycles for these standards are becoming shorter and the market is trending towards open Mobile Network Operator models also supports the need for a multiprotocol multiband platform.

"The perception of SDR as a military-grade technology is expected to change with the adoption of Multiprotocol Multiband support in wireless base stations," said Aditya Kaul. "Although the initial push for Multiprotocol Multiband is going to come from wireless OEMs who are eager to take advantage of the manufacturing cost efficiencies, the momentum will be carried forward by Mobile Network Operators who, with their control and influence of the high-volume mobile handset market, will ultimately define MPMB’s business case."

Although the pathway to SDR commercialization is becoming clearer, Pioneer is also tempering its view with the warning that there are still issues to be resolved around adoption of a commercial implementation architecture and standards which could hamper the transition process.

About Pioneer Consulting

Pioneer Consulting provides research on cutting-edge technologies in the wireless space, both fixed and mobile and is known for its expertise in wireless LAN, Software Defined Radio, Wireless Backhaul, 2G, 3G and 4G cellular technologies. Pioneer provides market-leading insights on technologies that are aimed at altering the wireless value chain or are causing the re-engineering of traditional wireless network architecture. For more information on Pioneer Consulting and its products and services visit the company's Web site www.pioneerconsulting.com.