The €1.5 million facility – which has been named ‘RadioSpace’ - is the country’s first large-scale site specifically intended for the research and testing of technologies needed for 5G and future IoT. According to a statement, it will be open to large industry, SMEs and start-ups, providing “a unique, large scale, interference-free facility for scientists and engineers.”
RadioSpace consists of a specially-constructed anechoic chamber, providing 'perfect isolation' for radio signals. It is “designed to provide a full range of services to developers of 4G mobile networks, IoT enabled products and future 5G and mmWave devices.”
Speaking at the opening of the facility, John Halligan TD, minister for training, skills, innovation, research and development, said: “This high-tech facility is very impressive and will assist Irish industry in developing future smart technology. The development of smart technology is not slowing down, and I’m delighted that Maynooth University is at the forefront of this research.”
Professor Philip Nolan, president of Maynooth University, said: “This facility will serve as the National 5G Test Centre for Ireland, providing a space for next-generation wireless technologies to be refined and applied on an international scale."
The test centre is part of CONNECT, an SFI research centre for future networks and communications. €638,000 of its funding came from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).
