National 5G test centre opens at Maynooth University
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RadioSpace, a new €1.5 million national test centre for next-gen wireless technologies such as 5G and IoT, has been opened at Maynooth University in Ireland.
The new 5G test centre, which is one of the first of its kind in Europe, has been designed to provide a range of services to developers of 4G mobile networks, IoT-enabled products, 5G and mmWave devices.
RadioSpace, will be open to enterprises, SMEs and start-ups, and will provide a unique, large scale, interference-free facility for scientists and engineers from industry and universities, in Ireland and internationally.
The facility consists of a specially constructed anechoic chamber that provides perfect isolation for radio signals. Nothing can enter, and nothing can leave. With advanced test equipment and specialist engineers, this allows for very sensitive measurements to be made, essential for the development of modern wireless devices.
RadioSpace connects industry and academic researchers. The aim, to address the full range of challenges in developing new technologies and products for the next generation of wireless devices.
The €1.5 million facility, which has received €638,000 funding from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), is part of Connect – the world-leading SFI Research Centre for future networks and communications.
This service is available to SMEs, and access can be facilitated via the Enterprise Ireland Innovation voucher scheme. This ensures that both SMEs and larger organisations can avail of the technology and expertise of researchers in Maynooth University.
According to Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University, “This facility will serve as the National 5G Test Centre for Ireland, providing a space for next-generation wireless technologies to be tested, refined and applied on an international scale. I’m pleased to say that RadioSpace will be available to all those who can make good use of it, from leading researchers and innovators to students just starting their careers, from the largest multinational to the smallest of start-ups. Until now Irish industry working in this space has needed look abroad to avail of similar facilities and I’m proud we are now in a position to provide this centre of excellence right here in Maynooth.”
