| Daniel Lim |
A CEREMONY was held at the School of Science and Engineering, Politeknik Brunei (PB), Lumut, yesterday to mark the handover of fibre optic ‘Optical Line Terminal’ (OLT) Equipment.
The contribution, a collaborative initiative between Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru), Huawei Technologies (B) Sdn Bhd and PB, is aimed at developing the local Information and Communication Technology (ICT) talents of the future and also to highlight the importance of the continuous evolution of the ICT industry in the country, in its journey to transition into a digital economy in the coming years in line with Brunei Vision 2035.
Presenting the donation on behalf of TelBru as the guest of honour was David Holliday, the CEO of TelBru. Welcoming Holliday to the event was Denis Ho Mun Tai, the Director of PB.
The OLT Equipment is a device which serves as the service provider’s – in this case, Telbru – endpoint in a telecommunication network, which serves as a platform to provide their customers with high-speed Internet across the nation.
It will allow PB students and staff to not only connect to Brunei’s fastest and most secure broadband network, but also gain a hands-on practical training on the equipment and a greater understanding of the fixed broadband technology currently used by TelBru to maintain the country’s Internet infrastructure.
As a partner to the joint sponsorship, Huawei was on hand to set up the equipment prior to the ceremony and provided training demonstrations on how to use the equipment. Company staff also briefed PB students and lecturers on safety guidelines while operating the equipment.
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah followed by a speech from the Director of PB.
“This generous contribution from Telbru as a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) partner of Politeknik Brunei as well as Huawei will undoubtedly help our students from the Diploma in Telecommunications to Systems Engineering programme, providing them a platform to acquire the important industry skills and technological training which are vital to their employability after they graduate from Politeknik Brunei,” he said.
Ho hoped that the contribution will help the students to learn from hands-on experience through interaction with the OLT Equipment.
Holliday explained that the joint sponsorship with Huawei Technologies is a reflection of their commitment as private sector industry leaders to work closely with institutes of higher learning in the country.
Explaining further, he said the OLT Equipment will benefit the students by helping them “learn how fibre is pulled and how eventually it reaches a customer’s home, and by understanding the concept of providing Internet practically, as opposed to only theory, they can improve their knowledge and grasp of the technology.”
The CEO added that TelBru has inked an MoU with PB, where both parties have managed to design a three-year Diploma in Telecommunications course, with two years on campus, and one year on-the-job training with TelBru.
“I am happy to report that this is progressing very well with the 24 attached students,” he said of the programme.
Holliday expressed his appreciation to Huawei for aiding in the sponsorship initiative, providing assurances that TelBru will continue to play its part in developing local ICT talent and emphasised once again that the OLT equipment is another small step in their efforts to help realise Brunei Vision 2035.
The TelBru CEO then presented a mock cheque to PB Director to confirm the official handover of the OLT Equipment to the school.
The CEO of TelBru along with the Director and staff members of PB later viewed the newly installed OLT Equipment.
Speaking to the Bulletin on how the sponsorship will likely impact the future of the students and the country, Holliday added, “The sponsorship is an investment we made together with Huawei to help youths across the country, in addition to the 24 existing PB students who are currently attached to TelBru. We hope to continue working closely with PB on the best course to further expand the diploma in the future.”
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