Nortel Networks, the telecommunications giant, is understood to be reviewing its research and development operations in Northern Ireland in a move which industry sources believe could lead to further restructuring at its Monkstown plant.
The US group has briefed senior research and development management about the potential redeployment of research and development functions in the North.
One proposal that is currently being discussed is the transfer of a proportion of the research and development operation to the group's sister plant at Milton Keynes in the UK.
A spokesman for Nortel said that no one was available to comment on the group's ongoing activities.
Nortel Networks makes telecommunications transmission equipment, which is used to carry voice, and data traffic in Monkstown.
Last year the group announced a £95 million sterling (#155 million) investment programme in Northern Ireland to meet what it then described as the "explosive demand" for Internet-related communications systems.
The telecoms giant had planned to create an additional 1,300 jobs in the North by the end of this year. A significant percentage of these jobs were to be created in its research and development division.
However, the global downturn in the telecommunications sector impacted heavily on Nortel Network's development plans and it has halted all recruitment. It is currently in the process of implementing 15,000 redundancies throughout its operation.
Northern Ireland has not escaped the redundancy programme; 90 jobs have already been axed and the group has also warned that it is keeping its employment in the North under review.
