Software-Defined Radio technology and market outlook

Special Report
SDR USE IN MIL COMMS
advantage of some MOTS, or
near MOTS, solutions together
with a focus on the importance
of networking waveforms owned
by the government; this will ease
the porting of this interoperable
WF into different supplied
platforms from different vendors.
››
Encouraging competition
by permitting multiple radio
platform suppliers: This could
result in product innovations
with a reduced time to market.
As with any new defense program,
national sovereignty issues may also
come into play in defining the business
model, with countries choosing to ramp
up a native SDR industry. Such decisions
need to take into account the cost and
lead time required to acquire the necessary
technical skills to be successful.
Choosing the best model
In reviewing the existing tactical radio
market, current business models, and
possible emerging model characteristics,
it becomes clear that interoperability is
a key driver for SDR, and that achieving
the required interoperability has a cost.
The business model has to absorb this
cost, either through some competition
gain, through government funding,
or by access to volume markets. The
ITR-SIG of the Wireless Innovation
Forum is evaluating how variations on
existing business models can be used
by new entrants into the SDR tactical
radio market to address these cost
issues and will publish its findings in a
publically available report. The ITR-SIG
encourages feedback on this important
topic, as well as participation by
the broader international tactical radio
community. MES
Lee Pucker
is CEO of the
Wireless Innovation
Forum (SDR Forum
Version 2.0), a
nonprofit “mutual
benefit corporation”
dedicated to driving the future of
radio communications and systems
worldwide. Lee holds a BSEE from
the University of Illinois and a Master
of Science Degree from The Johns
Hopkins University. Contact him at
lee.pucker@wirelessinnovation.org.
Wireless Innovation Forum
604-828-9846
www.wirelessinnovation.org
David Renaudeau
leads product line
management for
Software-Defined
Radio tactical
communications
at Thales. During
his 15-year tenure in the mobile
communications industry, he
also worked at Alcatel-Lucent
leading product management
activities for GSM, UMTS, and later
participating in the creation of
WiMAX activity there. Contact him at
david.renaudeau@thalesgroup.com.
Thales
33 1 46 13 33 40
www.thalesgroup.com
26 October 2012 MILITARY EMBEDDED SYSTEMS