Trade News | 30 Jan 2009 :
The Centre for Telecommunications Value-chain Research (CTVR), Ireland's prime telecommunications research centre, has called for more co-operation between research teams in Ireland and Japan. It says such a move is needed to capture a lead in the next wave of mobile communications technology.
The CTVR has already established links itself with Japanese technology giant, NEC Communication Systems (Irish Computer, April 2008).
CTVR director Prof Donal O'Mahony - who was part of last month's Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Japan - said: High-tech research links between Ireland and Japan may allow both countries to take the driving seat in the creation of new communications technologies".
Prof O'Mahony said there were opportunities for greater collaboration between teams in Ireland and Japan, particularly in the use of available radio wave frequencies within the electromagnetic spectrum. This would involve experiments on potentially ground-breaking radio-based technologies in home broadband, mobile communications and other fields.
"Ireland and Japan have actually been at the forefront in using available frequencies to explore the possibilities of these new kinds of technologies. Ultimately, our aim is to help teams to deliver the ‘digital dividend' from the spectrum - the commercial benefits that will arise from new products in this area," said Prof O'Mahony.
Last year's CTVR partnerships with NEC Communication Systems, part of Japanese technology giant NEC Group, focused on research on the potential use of networks based on optical fibres to achieve super-fast, lower cost internet connections in the future.
Prof O'Mahony said: "If we develop the necessary research leadership position, we will have the opportunity to influence the development of future radio-based communications, which could have significant benefits for the tech sector in Ireland and other countries in the vanguard of this effort".