Wideband digital receivers for multi-standard software radios

Multi-standard software-definable radios which are capable of operation according to a variety of different mobile radio standards represent an extremely powerful tool for evolution towards future third-generation cellular systems. This is particularly the case in Europe where the emergence of advanced UMTS air-interfaces needs to be accompanied with some degree of backward compatibility with the well-established GSM/DCS systems. This paper examines a number of the architectural issues and trade-offs involved in the design of wideband multi-standard GSM/UMTS digital radios and presents an examination of the filtering and ADC technology requirements for their implementation. This work has been undertaken in the context of the FIRST project (Flexible Integrated Radio System Technology) as part of the ACTS mobile line.