EUROPEAN RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ON 3RD-GENERATION MOBILE COMMUNICATION-SYSTEMS

European third-generation mobile communication systems aim to deliver new wideband multimedia services to the customer and to integrate all the different services of second-generation systems. The enabling plat forms, technologies, and applications are the subject of thorough rese arch in the framework of the recently launched ACTS R & D program, whi ch is funded by the European Community and follows the RACE program. I n the context of mobile and personal communications, the RACE program aimed at the development and validation of the necessary key technolog ies and concepts that would in the future constitute the ''building bl ocks'' of third-generation of mobile communication systems. The integr ation of these technology ''building blocks'' into a single new system constitutes the challenge that lies ahead for the ACTS program.