Unveiling the report, ‘Technology Actions to Support the Smart Economy’, which outlines the Government’s new digital economy strategy, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD, said that 50 new high-skill technology jobs would be created in Ireland within the next 12 months as a result of the Exemplar Smart Network, with 300 more to follow in the next three years.
The Examplar Smart Network is the Government’s first step in creating a sustainable next-gen communications infrastructure for Ireland and will be led by Irish telecoms equipment design company Intune Networks, where 50 of these new jobs will be created.
Essentially Exemplar will be a fibre-optic smart grid built by Intune Networks throughout the country. Intune is unique in that it has developed the world’s first programmable fibre-optic platform, making for high-quality, high-speed internet access.
Lab trials are expected to start in early 2010, with the rollout of the first phase of the Exemplar Smart Network operation before the end of that year.
“Today we are setting a new economic direction for Ireland,” said Minister Ryan.
“In the future, those countries that focus on the development of new energy and communications technologies are those that will have the competitive edge.
“With Irish companies such as InTune Networks leading in research and innovation, today we are securing the investment and employment of the future. The ‘smart economy’ is the successful economy, and it’s one to which the Government is committed.”
