THE DEPARTMENT of Communications has become a direct investor in research, putting €5 million into a new kind of communications network that could revolutionise internet traffic.

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan described the investment as “unique” yesterday in Dublin as he announced support for the “Exemplar Test Bed”.

It will be used to help research into a new way of transmitting data over the internet that is many times faster and uses much less electricity than existing communications networks, Mr Ryan said.

Irish company Intune Networks developed the technology behind Exemplar. The project will create an initial 80 jobs, with the network coming into operation by this July.

Exemplar technology will also be introduced within Ireland, first in Dublin and then across the country, Mr Ryan told a gathering at Government Buildings that included representatives from Ireland’s top computer and communications companies.

It greatly simplifies data transmission and increases speed by splitting light signals travelling through fibre optic cables into 84 separate parts.

The department did not invest directly in Intune, Mr Ryan said. It paid for a licence from Intune and then hired the company to install and develop the Exemplar test network, which will connect Cork and Tralee.

Intune retains full control over the technology and has international patents, Mr Ryan said.