Malta's largest privately-owned computer systems firm, Megabyte, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year with a rebranding and a new internet portal.

Based at the Mosta Technopark, the company, established by Thomas and Carm Galea, boasts an extensive client base in the private and public sectors. It offers a comprehensive range of ICT services and support, including software, eBusiness, facilities management, engineering and infrastructure, training and consultancy.

Its corporate website www.megabyte.net was designed in-house and provides comprehensive information on services and solutions, the industries it is active in and information on career opportunities, events, latest news and partners.

Thomas and Carm Galea, who are still active in the company, read their post-graduate degrees in Southampton University, in electronics and numerical science respectively. Their company has grown from two departments - hardware and software - to five, and now employs more than 65 people. The departments are: software, engineering, Oracle Enterprise Solutions, Microsoft Enterprise Solutions and hospitality.

In its first few years, the company focused exclusively on the private sector and by 1987 had installed computer systems at 150 sites.

In 1987, Farrugia Investments Ltd took a 50 per cent equity stake, and the change of government that year led to the successful tendering for public projects, including the public lotto tender in 1989 to computerise lotto and Super 5.

Later, client server technology enabled Megabyte to offer systems for patient administration and the VAT Department.

In 2002, Megabyte started work on a project to provide a route profitability system to Air Malta. Megabyte took this system overseas and has implemented tailor-made versions for Cyprus Airways and Etihad Airways.