EB, One of Six European Industry Champions, to Develop a Common Software Defined Radio (SDR) Architecture

Wednesday, May 06, 2009 by Elektrobit Corporation

EB, Elektrobit Corporation (OMX: EBC1V) a developer of cutting-edge embedded technology solutions for automotive and wireless industries, is part of the ESSOR (European Secure Software Defined Radio) Program, a European Defence Agency (EDA) project, consisting of industrial companies from six participating member states, including EB, Finland; Indra, Spain; Radmor, Poland; Saab, Sweden; Selex, Italy and Thales, France.

ESSOR’s aim is to study and develop the Software Defined Radio (SDR) space ? an important technology in future wireless communications ? to ultimately deliver products and services under a common security basis to increase interoperability between European forces. Standardized architecture in SDR technologies will help defense operations achieve more capable, flexible and interoperable radio communications systems, which is necessary, as more defense operations are spread across multiple nations. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2012, with a total estimated cost of over 100 million euros.

EB is recognized globally for delivering innovative communications solutions for defense and public safety sectors as well as for commercial telecommunications – so the Company’s participation in ESSOR is a natural fit. With a deep understanding and technology skill-set in the SDR technology landscape, as it’s related to the validation and verification of waveform portability and platform re-configurability, EB adds tremendous value to the program. The Company has worked on several SDR-based communications solutions, including its mobile WiMAX base station framework, among others, and has helped many of its customers – from the world’s leading technology vendors and system integrators – to capitalize SDR-based wireless and emerging technologies.

"By integrating a common communications framework based on software defined radios, the European Defense Agency will enable a more efficient technology cross-utilization between global defense domains, resulting in cost savings and increased innovation,” said Ari Virtanen, Executive Vice President, Wireless Solutions, EB. ”We’re proud of EB’s strength in delivering advanced defense and public safety solutions based on the software defined radio technology, as it has allowed us to play a vital role in ESSOR, which is critical in driving defense cooperation throughout Europe."

Additional benefits of SDR, includes:

Industry benefits:

  • Waveform development flexibility, adaptability and re-usability
  • More efficient product customization and life time management
  • Commercial technology adaptation and re-use in defense market

End-user benefits:

  • Enhanced radio versatility through flexible modifications of new radio features and services
  • Application, waveform and radio unit separation and different life cycles; Incremental system upgrades
  • Critical enabler for cognitive combine radio