Koronadal students benefit from Smart’s wireless lab

The Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) of Smart Communications Inc. is now being offered in Mindanao.

Another wireless laboratory under SWEEP was inaugurated recently, this time at the Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) in Koronadal, South Cotabato, an academic institution recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as a "center for excellence" in Region 12 and one of the 30 best higher education institutions nationwide.

Notre Dame now hosts a wireless communications laboratory, which contains equipment from an analog cellular network such as radio cabinets, rectifier units, antennas, a battery bank and control computer.

The laboratory also houses an operational GSM cell site that provides additional coverage for the campus.

SWEEP includes a continuing education program where Smart will periodically deploy its engineers to provide lectures and make presentations on various topics like Introduction to GSM Technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).

The program is designed to complement the school’s existing Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) program by providing additional material on the latest developments in wireless technologies.

Notre Dame is the first university in Mindanao to partner with Smart, particularly the Network Services Division, in helping raise the level of ECE education in the country.