Mcast inaugurates new fibre-optic training lab

Mcast has inaugurated a fibre-optic laboratory at its Institute of Information and Communication Technology as part of an ongoing collaboration between the College and Sweden’s Institute for Fibre Optic Training and Certification (Iftac).

The new laboratory provides Mcast ICT networking students with advanced tools and equipment for hands-on training in the latest fibre-optic technologies, supported by expertise from Stockholm’s Fibre Optic Valley, one of Europe’s largest innovation clusters in this sector. Iftac invested over €120,000 to equip this new facility and to provide specialised training to the Mcast lecturers who will be guiding the students in this subject. This training started last year and will continue in the coming months.

The use of fibre-optic applications is expected to increase in the coming years, with some local companies already investing in fibre-to-home technologies. These developments in Malta and in nearby countries will increase the demand for ICT practitioners qualified in fibre-optic technologies.

Through the Mcast-Iftac collaboration, Mcast students will soon be able to obtain internationally-recognised Ifact certification in fibre-optic applications. The College and Iftac also aim to continue working with other Fibre Optic Valley organisations to develop Mcast’s laboratory into a specialised research and development centre.

Iftac has been offering training and certification in fibre-optic applications since 1996, providing support to more than 300 organisations in 50 different countries. Its assistance to Mcast is coordinated through its partner organisation ICT Networks, which opened a Malta office in 2010.

The new laboratory at Mcast was inaugurated during a visit by a Fibre Optic Valley delegation, led by Fibre Optic Valley CEO Jonas Dahlstrom, Iftac principal Stefan Westberg, and ICT Networks (Sweden) chief executive Morgan Hallgren. They toured the new laboratory and discussed the latest opportunities in fibre-optic technologies with Mcast’s ICT students.

Mcast president Joseph Farrugia, college principal and chief executive Stephen Cachia, and Institute of Information and Communication Technology director Eric Flask and deputy director Mario Pace accompanied the delegation.

“After careful consideration of alternative educational institutions, Itac chose Mcast as its partner in this region,” Westberg explained. “Together, we can now look forward to making Malta a platform for fibre-optic application development in the Mediterranean region, including North Africa and the Middle East.”

Dahlstrom praised the enthusiasm of Mcast students and staff, who offered their full support in this collaboration.

“Fibre Optic Valley’s vision is to develop Malta as this region’s leading centre in fibre optic technologies,” he said.