Over the past few years software radio has transitioned from an esoteric academic idea to a rapidly commercialising technology that in the coming decade will revolutionise the mobile telecommunications marketplace. Written for industry professionals in engineering and commercial roles, as well as those in academia and research, this book will provide a comprehensive context for all those already active in or entering the field. Walter Tuttlebee, himself a pioneer of software radio in Europe, has gathered contributions from many of the acknowledged world experts in software radio --leaders operating at the heart of the software radio world today -- who share their experience and insight into the background, the present and the future evolution of the technology and the industry. Contributions from North America, Europe and Asia ensure a comprehensive overview of the global SDR scene. The structured approach ensures that the book comprehensively addresses the key issues in the title -- the origins of software radio, what has been (and is) driving its commercialisation and what is happening on the international scene The book includes:* a comprehensive review of the origins of software radio in the defence industry* an insidera s view of the origins, evolution, role and activities of the SDR Forum* a summary of the MIT Sloan study into the drivers of global success in the mobile wireless marketplace* a review of end user and mobile network operator perspectives of software radio and what the value it can offer* insidersa summaries of recent SDR research activities in Europe and Japan* coverage of the regulatory issues associated with SDR and the current approaches being taken in North America and Europe, with contributions from the regulators themselves* a description of the first steps to SDR standards -- the ETSI MExE standard* descriptions of some of the first commercial software defined radio products, for both defence and commercial applicationsEndorsed with a foreword from Joseph Mitola III, a the father of software radioa