A three way agreement has been signed between Egypt's National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) to rollout a specialised training programme for the development of technical and professional capacities in the establishment, operation and maintenance of fiber-optic networks in the country.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Yasser ElKady witnessed the signing of the protocol by NTRA Acting Executive President Mustafa Abdul Wahid, ITIDA CEO Asmaa Hosni and NTI Acting Director Eman Ashour. The program aims to train 1500 specialists over the next two years.

Minister ElKady says the ICT Ministry has developed an action plan for national projects infrastructure based on fiber-optic networks, of which the newly signed agreement is an important part.

"Those projects include the new administrative capital, the Suez Canal Area Development Project (SCADP) and technology parks. The significance of this cooperation is that this training program is the first of its kind in terms of the quality of the technical content and the number of trainees."

The ICT minister also emphasised the need to implant technology and knowledge and develop local expertise in fibre optic networks. He says 500 of the specialists trained through the program will be supported to work in the national projects once they have completed their training.

The training program is based on content from the Fiber Optics Association (FOA) according to the ICT ministry and will consist of two phases for qualifying trainees to work in the field of fibre optics.

"The first phase involves the basics of fibre optics, which can be applied to the design, installation or operation. Passing this phase will allow the trainee to obtain FOA Certified Fibre Optic Technician (FOA-CFOT). During the second phase, trainees will be specialised to gain practical experience in the field of fibre optics and enhance advanced skills in the process of creating and installing equipment and operating fibre-optic networks."

The split sharing of responsibilities the training program as outlined in the agreement will see the NTRA, as part of its role, identifying the skills needed to learn basics of establishing telecommunication networks using fibre-optic cables, measuring them using different measuring devices and establishing a specialised laboratory in the field of fibre-optic communication networks techniques.

This is in addition to selecting a training entity from specialised companies or training centers in this area to implant technology and transfer theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for the program participants, conducting the selection process of trainees (Training of Trainers-TOT) program, and developing frames of reference for the selection of trainees in various disciplines.

ITIDA will support the cost of training, build a database of trainees and their qualifications and abilities, as well as assist in providing job opportunities for trainees in the national or international companies specialised in implementing the ICT infrastructure projects.

The Agency will also maintain communication with the program graduates and conduct periodic evaluation of the program in addition to skilling staff with modern techniques.

The NTI will provide a specialised training center and develop laboratories in the field of optical fibre, manage the training process with all its requirements and take executive steps and procedures needed for quality assurance, while giving the Egyptian labor competitive advantages.