The facility will be open to large industry and SMEs and startups, and will provide a unique, large scale, interference-free facility for scientists and engineers from industry and universities, in Ireland and internationally. It will be one of the first of its kind in Europe.

The facility consists of a specially constructed anechoic chamber that provides perfect isolation for radio signals -  nothing can enter and nothing can leave. This, with the advanced test equipment and specialist engineers, allows for very sensitive measurements to be made, essential for the development of modern wireless devices.

RadioSpace connects industry and academic researchers with the aim of addressing the full range of challenges in developing new technologies and products for the next generation of wireless devices. RadioSpace is designed to provide a full range of services to developers of 4G mobile networks, IoT enabled products and future 5G and mmWave 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.

Speaking at the opening of the 5G Test Centre, Minister John Halligan TD, Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, said: “I am delighted to see first-hand the National 5G test centre at Maynooth University. This high tech facility is very impressive and will assist Irish industry in developing future smart technology. I welcome the funding by my Department through Science Foundation Ireland and look forward to hearing about future technology announcements by industry using this 5G centre. 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 is a very exciting step for Maynooth University and for the country. 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.