50 jobs are to be created in the next year followed by another 300 within three years at Irish company Intune Networks, which is building a new communications network to cut down bottlenecks in data transfer.

The Irish telecoms equipment design company was named to lead the Government’s programme to build Ireland’s Exemplar Smart Network. Intune’s programmable fibre optic platform will form the foundation for creating a next generation smart and green communications infrastructure for Ireland. Minister Ryan said the network would give Ireland world leading technology and a first mover advantage in the establishment of a smart economy, helping Ireland leapfrog its international peers in digital infrastructure.

This announcement is positive news off the back of the announcement last week that Intel was cutting 294 jobs at its plant in Leixlip. Interestingly I was out there last week and the general feeling among those I spoke to was that there was little surprise with the news. This still does not make it any easier for those who lost their job.