Using existing telecommunications but channelling the goods more efficiently, the machine will be able to download 15 full-length Hollywood movies a minute, the team says.

The scientists at Bangor University are now set to build a prototype of their machine.

Dr Jianming Tang, of the university’s School of Electronic Engineering, hopes their efforts will convert the communications industry, home life and the workplace.

He said: “The new larger- and faster-capacity networks would revolutionise

“This will prepare remote working far easier and could have many other applications such as supporting older citizens in their homes, enabling applications such as tele-medicine to flourish.”

Dr Tang has just been awarded the Royal Society Brian Mercer Feasibility Prize as part of the Royal Society’s annual From Labs To Riches event, designed to highlight the awards and schemes that boost innovation and wealth creation from science, engineering and technology.

Of the new device, he said today: “Importantly, it works with the existing fibre optic technology we have, so there is no need to rip out the cabling which runs the country’s telecommunications network.

“Projections have additionally shown a more efficient use of the network will cut costs for every user by up to 75 per cent.

He added it is too early to predict the high-street cost of the device, which will look very much like a DVD player and will sit amoung the broadband outlet and computer.

Anyone who thinks that downloading 15 feature films in a minute seems a trifle unnecessary should think again, Dr Tang suggested.

“People may wonder how we will use that far greater capacity but applications develop through use, as we have already seen with the Net and telecoms technology,” he said.