Boost for city’s bid to be telecoms software hub

WATERFORD is setting its sights on attracting some of the world’s top telecommunications software companies to the region.

The bid has been boosted by a new €1 million centre for excellence and research which is to be set up at the city’s Institute of Technology.

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has selected the Telecommunications Software and Systems Group (TSSG) at Waterford Institute of Technology as the new base for a national telecommunications services research centre. The IT beat off stiff competition from other top centres around the country.

The centre will be headed by Dr Willie Donnelly, director of the TSSG. Several of the world’s largest telecoms companies are also involved, including Eircom, Ericsson, Motorola, O2 and Lake Communications.

The telecommunications software industry is one of the largest sectors in Ireland’s ICT industry with more than 15,000 people employed directly by indigenous and multinational companies.

The National Telecommunications Services Research Centre (NTSRC) to be based at WIT will address the national skills gap through its postgraduate research programme, the placing of engineers and scientists, and the operation of workshops and training programmes for industry.

“The establishment of the NTSRC as a strategic telecommunications software research hub will directly support Ireland’s transition from an investment-driven economy to an innovation-driven economy,” Dr Donnelly said.