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OutSystems Recognised by Gartner for Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms
OutSystems among the five highest-scoring vendors for every use case identified by Gartner
LONDON - 15th November, 2019 - OutSystems, provider of the number one low-code application development platform, today announced that Gartner, Inc., the world’s leading information technology and advisory company, has recognised OutSystems in its 2019 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms* report. OutSystems is among the five highest scores for every use case identified by Gartner.
The report examined the capabilities of 19 vendors to meet the needs of organisations in four distinct use cases: citizen development, business unit IT applications, enterprise IT composite applications, and SaaS and ISV Mobile & Web Applications. OutSystems received the highest overall score for SaaS and independent software vendor (ISV) mobile and web applications, the second-highest score for enterprise IT composite applications, and scored within the highest five scores for both citizen development and business unit IT applications.
“We believe this recognition, combined with our placement in the Leaders quadrant in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms, validates our comprehensive approach to low-code development,” said Paulo Rosado, OutSystems Co-Founder and CEO. “But we feel that nothing reflects the value of our platform better than the success our customers are experiencing. They frequently share how OutSystems has helped them modernise aging systems, use cloud applications to become more agile and respond to change, turn small departmental apps into core applications for the enterprise, and deliver omnichannel digital experiences that their customers love. We think these scores from Gartner reflect the innovation our customers are driving in their businesses.”
OutSystems was evaluated across the following nine critical capabilities: no-code development; end-user experience; UX data, logic, and process; back-end data, logic and process; integration capabilities; enterprise IT SDLC support; advanced architecture support; cloud functionality; and enterprise worthiness.
Our low-code platform has helped OutSystems customers achieve unparalleled results like:
According to Gartner, “Low-code application platforms (LCAPs) continue to grow in capability and maturity, addressing more enterprise use cases and providing rapid application delivery with fewer skills to the advantage of businesses everywhere. They are also replacing traditional Java and .NET developments where the requirements do not justify the costs and skills of cloud-native application platforms.”
The Gartner Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms report is intended to help organisations who are evaluating low-code application platforms to create their shortlist. It explains and scores the core features and use cases for low-code application platforms. Read a complimentary copy of the Gartner October 2019 Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms.
*Gartner, Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms, Paul Vincent, Yefim Natis, et al., 17 October 2019.
-ENDS-
Gartner Disclaimers
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organisation and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Gartner Peer Insights reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual customers based on their own experiences, and do not represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates.
Media Contacts:
Michael Bartley (UK)
+44 (0) 1189 497736
michael@c8consulting.co.uk
LONDON - 15th November, 2019 - OutSystems, provider of the number one low-code application development platform, today announced that Gartner, Inc., the world’s leading information technology and advisory company, has recognised OutSystems in its 2019 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms* report. OutSystems is among the five highest scores for every use case identified by Gartner.
The report examined the capabilities of 19 vendors to meet the needs of organisations in four distinct use cases: citizen development, business unit IT applications, enterprise IT composite applications, and SaaS and ISV Mobile & Web Applications. OutSystems received the highest overall score for SaaS and independent software vendor (ISV) mobile and web applications, the second-highest score for enterprise IT composite applications, and scored within the highest five scores for both citizen development and business unit IT applications.
“We believe this recognition, combined with our placement in the Leaders quadrant in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms, validates our comprehensive approach to low-code development,” said Paulo Rosado, OutSystems Co-Founder and CEO. “But we feel that nothing reflects the value of our platform better than the success our customers are experiencing. They frequently share how OutSystems has helped them modernise aging systems, use cloud applications to become more agile and respond to change, turn small departmental apps into core applications for the enterprise, and deliver omnichannel digital experiences that their customers love. We think these scores from Gartner reflect the innovation our customers are driving in their businesses.”
OutSystems was evaluated across the following nine critical capabilities: no-code development; end-user experience; UX data, logic, and process; back-end data, logic and process; integration capabilities; enterprise IT SDLC support; advanced architecture support; cloud functionality; and enterprise worthiness.
Our low-code platform has helped OutSystems customers achieve unparalleled results like:
- FWD Insurance launched a new customer-facing app called Tapp in 90 days that has catapulted them from 33rd to 8th largest insurance provider in the Philippines in just four years and features integrated live chat, payment reminders, and fingerprint authentication.
- EDP built a brand-new core payment collection system from scratch that serves 200 collection agents and has processed 55 million transactions and 6 billion euros.
- Albert Heijn, part of the international food retail group Ahold Delhaize, consolidated nine core applications into one app that is used in more than 1000 stores by more than 100,000 users and cuts task time by 50 percent.
According to Gartner, “Low-code application platforms (LCAPs) continue to grow in capability and maturity, addressing more enterprise use cases and providing rapid application delivery with fewer skills to the advantage of businesses everywhere. They are also replacing traditional Java and .NET developments where the requirements do not justify the costs and skills of cloud-native application platforms.”
The Gartner Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms report is intended to help organisations who are evaluating low-code application platforms to create their shortlist. It explains and scores the core features and use cases for low-code application platforms. Read a complimentary copy of the Gartner October 2019 Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms.
*Gartner, Critical Capabilities for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms, Paul Vincent, Yefim Natis, et al., 17 October 2019.
-ENDS-
Gartner Disclaimers
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organisation and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Gartner Peer Insights reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual customers based on their own experiences, and do not represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates.
Media Contacts:
Michael Bartley (UK)
+44 (0) 1189 497736
michael@c8consulting.co.uk
OutSystems Launches First-of-Its-Kind Low-Code School to Train New Professional Low-Code Developers
LONDON – 13th November 2019: OutSystems, provider of the number one low-code application development platform, today announced that it has opened the first-ever Low-Code School in the UK, increasing career opportunities for those not currently versed in low-code application development.
Following the success of the OutSystems Low-Code School in Portugal, the free-of-charge course is open to any developer with at least three years of professional experience in web or mobile coding languages. The first series of extra-curricular sessions will be held at the OutSystems London office on weekdays between 25th November and 9th December 2019 in the evenings and will be delivered by a certified OutSystems trainer.
The Low-Code School has been devised to plug the UK coding skills gap. Demand for OutSystems professionals continues to grow exponentially, with an estimated 600 job opportunities for professionals versed in low-code application development available across the country.
OutSystems customers such as the UK’s largest property marketing group FocalAgent, Capita Consulting and Thomas Miller have already endorsed the Low-Code School, identifying it as an ideal way to hire new low-code professionals. The Low-Code School will enable OutSystems to successfully train more than 100 professionals before the end of 2019.
“Being an OutSystems customer has opened up opportunities for Focal to develop applications in a modern and visual manner. The platform challenges traditional mindsets related to software development, preparing Focal for the future of application development,” said Rolf Groenewold, Co-Founder and Managing Director of FocalAgent. “As with any business, the greatest challenge is always talent and the OutSystems initiative to stimulate job creation in the low-code market will help Focal attract a new wave of low-code professionals and continue to innovate and remain the market leader in our segment.”
“We have substantial plans to build the best-in-class OutSystems consulting ecosystem,” said Patrick Gormley, Consulting Services Lead at Capita Consulting. “This process will be streamlined by the OutSystems Low-Code School, which applies a refreshing and effective approach to ensure the best low-code talent doesn’t go unnoticed.”
The course consists of two weeks of OutSystems technology training, with free access to an online Associate Developer Exam upon completion of the course. Completing the exam will increase the marketability of the individual as qualified in low-code and will open the opportunity to meet potential employers within the OutSystems community who are hiring new developers.
“The number of low-code developers in the UK is far outstripped by the requirements of OutSystems customers, who are looking to hire fresh talent to keep up with burgeoning demand,” explains Garry Larner, Regional Director Financial Services and Insurance at OutSystems. “These unprecedented market conditions have led to the creation of the Low-Code School, which is a game-changer in terms of reskilling existing programmers in the way of low-code and the OutSystems platform, opening up new opportunities for those who want to take a different career direction.”
The Low-Code School is part of OutSystems wider corporate strategy to vastly increase the number of professionals skilled in the low-code language. It complements OutSystems global portfolio of online and classroom-based low-code bootcamps, which teach budding developers everything from the low-code basics and how to navigate the OutSystems ecosystem, to advanced application development.
“This Low-Code School has positioned OutSystems as the undisputed leader in educating existing IT professionals in the way of low-code. The demands of our customers and the significant growth of the technology has enabled us to create a new pool of talent and do all we can for those looking to move into application development and design,” adds Larner.
For further information on OutSystems Low-Code School, please contact reskill@outsystems.com. To apply for the free courses, sign-up before 17th November, here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/low-code-school-london-part-time-after-work-registration-80246285801.
-ENDS-
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster.
OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire applications that easily integrate with existing systems.
Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
Following the success of the OutSystems Low-Code School in Portugal, the free-of-charge course is open to any developer with at least three years of professional experience in web or mobile coding languages. The first series of extra-curricular sessions will be held at the OutSystems London office on weekdays between 25th November and 9th December 2019 in the evenings and will be delivered by a certified OutSystems trainer.
The Low-Code School has been devised to plug the UK coding skills gap. Demand for OutSystems professionals continues to grow exponentially, with an estimated 600 job opportunities for professionals versed in low-code application development available across the country.
OutSystems customers such as the UK’s largest property marketing group FocalAgent, Capita Consulting and Thomas Miller have already endorsed the Low-Code School, identifying it as an ideal way to hire new low-code professionals. The Low-Code School will enable OutSystems to successfully train more than 100 professionals before the end of 2019.
“Being an OutSystems customer has opened up opportunities for Focal to develop applications in a modern and visual manner. The platform challenges traditional mindsets related to software development, preparing Focal for the future of application development,” said Rolf Groenewold, Co-Founder and Managing Director of FocalAgent. “As with any business, the greatest challenge is always talent and the OutSystems initiative to stimulate job creation in the low-code market will help Focal attract a new wave of low-code professionals and continue to innovate and remain the market leader in our segment.”
“We have substantial plans to build the best-in-class OutSystems consulting ecosystem,” said Patrick Gormley, Consulting Services Lead at Capita Consulting. “This process will be streamlined by the OutSystems Low-Code School, which applies a refreshing and effective approach to ensure the best low-code talent doesn’t go unnoticed.”
The course consists of two weeks of OutSystems technology training, with free access to an online Associate Developer Exam upon completion of the course. Completing the exam will increase the marketability of the individual as qualified in low-code and will open the opportunity to meet potential employers within the OutSystems community who are hiring new developers.
“The number of low-code developers in the UK is far outstripped by the requirements of OutSystems customers, who are looking to hire fresh talent to keep up with burgeoning demand,” explains Garry Larner, Regional Director Financial Services and Insurance at OutSystems. “These unprecedented market conditions have led to the creation of the Low-Code School, which is a game-changer in terms of reskilling existing programmers in the way of low-code and the OutSystems platform, opening up new opportunities for those who want to take a different career direction.”
The Low-Code School is part of OutSystems wider corporate strategy to vastly increase the number of professionals skilled in the low-code language. It complements OutSystems global portfolio of online and classroom-based low-code bootcamps, which teach budding developers everything from the low-code basics and how to navigate the OutSystems ecosystem, to advanced application development.
“This Low-Code School has positioned OutSystems as the undisputed leader in educating existing IT professionals in the way of low-code. The demands of our customers and the significant growth of the technology has enabled us to create a new pool of talent and do all we can for those looking to move into application development and design,” adds Larner.
For further information on OutSystems Low-Code School, please contact reskill@outsystems.com. To apply for the free courses, sign-up before 17th November, here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/low-code-school-london-part-time-after-work-registration-80246285801.
-ENDS-
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster.
OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire applications that easily integrate with existing systems.
Visit us at www.outsystems.com, or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
OutSystems Recognised as a 2019 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Multiexperience Development Platforms
Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice Distinction Is Based on Feedback and Ratings From End-User Professionals Who Have Experience Purchasing, Implementing, and/or Using the Product or Service
LONDON, UK — 6th November, 2019 — OutSystems, provider of the number one platform for low-code rapid application development, today announced that it has been named a 2019 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Multiexperience Development Platforms.
Gartner defines Multiexperience Development Platforms as, “A multi-experience development platform (MXDP) is a product or suite of products that offers professional developers (and potentially including citizen developers) an integrated set of front-end development tools and back-end services that enable scalable development of fit-for-purpose apps across digital touchpoints--including custom mobile apps, responsive web and PWAs, immersive, and conversational app support.”
The Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice Distinction is based on feedback and ratings from end-user professionals with experience purchasing, implementing, and/or using the product or service. To qualify for the Customers’ Choice distinction, vendors must have a product that is aligned to the market, have their overall rating (out of 5 stars) equal to or higher than the mean rating for that market, and meet all of the additional requirements.
OutSystems received 487 reviews, totalling an average of 4.5 out of 5 rating as of Nov. 4, 2019.
“Customer experience is at the heart of competing in today's market,” said Paulo Rosado, CEO and Founder of OutSystems. “Brands have to deliver high-quality, consistent interactions across digital channels or they will be disrupted. This latest recognition shows that our customers value how our platform helps them address the challenge of delivering high-quality, highly personalised omnichannel customer experiences that rival those of the CX leaders.”
Here are several examples of Gartner Peer Insights reviews of OutSystems in the past year.
“It is hard to believe the promise of 10x programming until you start using it and realise that this is not another product: it is the first viable step forward in the evolution of software development as we know it.” Application engineer in the finance industry (Read Review)
“My experience with OutSystems overall has been great. OutSystems is an excellent tool for developing business-ready applications with a fine-tuned user experience. To create the kind of websites I need to create without OutSystems could take an order of magnitude longer and require a lot of research to piece together all the best technologies.” Software engineer in the finance industry (Read Review)
“Create an app in minutes – no joke … I highly recommend due to the quick development, the nice look and feel of screens and quickly transitions high maintenance applications built in other platforms into OutSystems.” Applications specialist in the retail industry (Read Review)
OutSystems customers consistently rate OutSystems highly. OutSystems has also been selected as Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice in Mobile App Development Platforms. Additionally, the company was also a February 2019 Customers’ Choice for Enterprise High-Productivity Application Platform as a Service Software on Gartner Peer Insights.
About Peer Insights
Peer Insights is an online platform of ratings and reviews of IT software and services that are written and read by IT professionals and technology decision-makers. The goal is to help IT leaders make more insightful purchase decisions and help technology providers improve their products by receiving objective, unbiased feedback from their customers. Gartner Peer Insights includes more than 70,000 verified reviews in more than 200 markets. For more information, please visit www.gartner.com/reviews/home.
Disclaimers:
Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire applications that easily integrate with existing systems. Visit us at www.outsystems.com or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
LONDON, UK — 6th November, 2019 — OutSystems, provider of the number one platform for low-code rapid application development, today announced that it has been named a 2019 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Multiexperience Development Platforms.
Gartner defines Multiexperience Development Platforms as, “A multi-experience development platform (MXDP) is a product or suite of products that offers professional developers (and potentially including citizen developers) an integrated set of front-end development tools and back-end services that enable scalable development of fit-for-purpose apps across digital touchpoints--including custom mobile apps, responsive web and PWAs, immersive, and conversational app support.”
The Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice Distinction is based on feedback and ratings from end-user professionals with experience purchasing, implementing, and/or using the product or service. To qualify for the Customers’ Choice distinction, vendors must have a product that is aligned to the market, have their overall rating (out of 5 stars) equal to or higher than the mean rating for that market, and meet all of the additional requirements.
OutSystems received 487 reviews, totalling an average of 4.5 out of 5 rating as of Nov. 4, 2019.
“Customer experience is at the heart of competing in today's market,” said Paulo Rosado, CEO and Founder of OutSystems. “Brands have to deliver high-quality, consistent interactions across digital channels or they will be disrupted. This latest recognition shows that our customers value how our platform helps them address the challenge of delivering high-quality, highly personalised omnichannel customer experiences that rival those of the CX leaders.”
Here are several examples of Gartner Peer Insights reviews of OutSystems in the past year.
“It is hard to believe the promise of 10x programming until you start using it and realise that this is not another product: it is the first viable step forward in the evolution of software development as we know it.” Application engineer in the finance industry (Read Review)
“My experience with OutSystems overall has been great. OutSystems is an excellent tool for developing business-ready applications with a fine-tuned user experience. To create the kind of websites I need to create without OutSystems could take an order of magnitude longer and require a lot of research to piece together all the best technologies.” Software engineer in the finance industry (Read Review)
“Create an app in minutes – no joke … I highly recommend due to the quick development, the nice look and feel of screens and quickly transitions high maintenance applications built in other platforms into OutSystems.” Applications specialist in the retail industry (Read Review)
OutSystems customers consistently rate OutSystems highly. OutSystems has also been selected as Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice in Mobile App Development Platforms. Additionally, the company was also a February 2019 Customers’ Choice for Enterprise High-Productivity Application Platform as a Service Software on Gartner Peer Insights.
About Peer Insights
Peer Insights is an online platform of ratings and reviews of IT software and services that are written and read by IT professionals and technology decision-makers. The goal is to help IT leaders make more insightful purchase decisions and help technology providers improve their products by receiving objective, unbiased feedback from their customers. Gartner Peer Insights includes more than 70,000 verified reviews in more than 200 markets. For more information, please visit www.gartner.com/reviews/home.
Disclaimers:
Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.
About OutSystems
Thousands of customers worldwide trust OutSystems, the number one low-code platform for rapid application development. Engineers with an obsessive attention to detail crafted every aspect of the OutSystems platform to help organisations build enterprise-grade apps and transform their business faster. OutSystems is the only solution that combines the power of low-code development with advanced mobile capabilities, enabling visual development of entire applications that easily integrate with existing systems. Visit us at www.outsystems.com or follow us on Twitter @OutSystems or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/outsystems.
Internet connectivity price drop to benefit research & education in South Caucasus through EaPConnect
4 November 2019, Amsterdam, Netherlands Students, researchers and academics in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will be better able to collaborate internationally thanks to improved Internet connectivity with more competitive market prices, achieved in the EU-funded EaPConnect project.
Prices for Internet connectivity for research and education communities in South Caucasus countries have dropped by more than 80% since the project first tendered in 2016. Procurement activities by EaPConnect, led by GÉANT, have helped to achieve this reduction. The money saved by the EaPConnect partners in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia can now be invested in the development of services and skills that will strengthen the national research and education networks (NRENs), better supporting the countries’ research and education communities and their ability to collaborate with peers in Europe and other world regions.
Improving sustainability and digital equality
EaPConnect strives to achieve better connectivity at lower prices because high-bandwidth, secure Internet networks that are dedicated for research and education form the basis service provided by project partner NRENs.
Veronika Di Luna of GÉANT, EaPConnect Project Manager, says: “By helping to reduce prices in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, the project aims to offer better value to users, to reduce the digital divide between EaP and other countries, and to maintain these positive effects in the long term.”
What has changed?
Geopolitical constraints, difficult terrain and a limited number of suppliers have previously kept market prices high in the South Caucasus countries. But the markets responded to the EaPConnect project’s buying capacity when tendering for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia for the third time. Other significant factors have been a growth in demand for bandwidth across these populations, the improved capacity of the pre-existing Black Sea fibre-optic link to Georgia that is run by Caucasus Online, and the entry of a new competitor to these markets – TransTeleCom - opening up a new geographical route.
Across Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, there has been an 83% drop in total price per Gbps (Gigabits per second) of network connectivity since 2016. The most dramatic decrease has been in Azerbaijan, where the original monthly price of 21,500 euro per Gbps was the highest across all six of the EaP countries, which include Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. The latest monthly price in Azerbaijan is only around 7% of that amount, at around 1,543 euro per Gbps, making it the third cheapest of the six countries overall. The monthly price per Gbps in Georgia has dropped by 78.5%, and in Armenia the decrease is 62.5%.
In this newest round of network procurements, the following changes occurred:
Ramaz Kvatadze CEO of GRENA says: “The GÉANT procurement team performed excellent work which resulted in a significant reduction of connectivity prices in the Caucasus region. The saved amount of funds will be allocated to the upgrade of the network infrastructure and development of new services. This is essential for the integration of the Georgian research and education community in the European Research Area.”
Erik Huizer, CEO of GÉANT says: “I am proud that GÉANT's procurement team has worked hard to support these achievements and we hope the trend towards more affordable network connectivity will continue. International collaboration in research and education depends on good connections - between networks and between people - and GÉANT is pleased to help strengthen both of these sorts of bonds, allowing ever greater opportunities for Eastern Partnership research and education communities to work with their peers in Europe and other world regions.”
Cooperation between the GÉANT community and commercial partners is vital to the successful deployment of these upgraded network links. The GRENA upgrade was completed on 25 May 2019; the ASNET-AM upgrade was completed on 31 October 2019, and the AzScienceNet upgrade is due for completion in November 2019.
FURTHER INFORMATION
About EaPConnect
The EaPConnect (Eastern Partnership Connect) project is integrating the Eastern Partnership national networks with the pan-European GÉANT network in order to decrease the ‘digital divide’ between countries and facilitate the participation of local scientists, students and academics in global research and education collaborations. All Eastern Partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – have received project-funded connectivity links and/or upgrades since EaPConnect began in July 2015. A new procurement to improve connectivity in Belarus is also nearing completion. By interconnecting the R&E communities across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region and with their European counterparts, EaPConnect is creating a gateway for talented individuals in the EaP countries to be truly global players.
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargements Negotiations (DG NEAR) is contributing 95% (€13m) towards the cost of the EaPConnect project, providing funding under Grant Agreement 2015-356353; the remaining 5% is co-funded by the six beneficiary countries.
Website: https://www.eapconnect.eu/
Twitter: @EaPConnect_News https://twitter.com/EaPConnect_News
Facebook: @EaPConnectProject https://www.facebook.com/EaPConnectProject/
Contact: Laura.Durnford@geant.org
About ASNET-AM:
The Academic Scientific Research Computer Network of Armenia (ASNET-AM) is the National Research and Education Network (NREN) of Armenia. Created in 1994 and having 25 years of experience in networking and information technologies, ASNET-AM provides various networking solutions to the academic, scientific, research, educational, cultural and other organisations of Armenia, which are engaged in scientific and educational activity.
The structure and policy of ASNET-AM operation was developed and implemented by the Institute for Informatics and Automation Problems (IIAP) of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA). ASNET-AM is a beneficiary partner of the EU-funded EaPConnect project.
Website: https://asnet.am
Twitter: @IIAP_ASNET_AM https://twitter.com/IIAP_ASNET_AM
Facebook: @Asnet-Am https://www.facebook.com/Asnet-Am-325757004245273/
About AzScienceNet and Institute of Information Technology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (IIT of ANAS)
AzScienceNet, the national R&E networking organisation for Azerbaijan, founded by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, has been serving the research community since the 1980s. Being the first point of Internet connectivity in the country led AzScienceNet to advanced global networking technology. Today, with a data centre and modern network connected via EaPConnect to GÉANT, AzScienceNet delivers most of the modern services such as connectivity, cloud, eduroam, videoconferencing, identity and security, distant education, web hosting, storage, TV broadcasting and VoIP. AzScienceNet is the e-infrastructure of national e-science and is developing the national open science cloud in correspondence with the European Open Science Cloud.
AzScienceNet has always been strong thanks to its parent organisation, the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS. IIT is Azerbaijan’s leading research organisation for Computer Science, Information Technology and Information Society. Besides its research centres and graduate education (Masters and PhD), IIT has unique education opportunities in IT for PhD students of all disciplines, possible via distance education technology. IIT is one of 40 research institutes in the government-funded Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, which conducts basic and applied research, coordinates research activities and educates most of PhD students in the country, works closely with government and forms science policy.
Website: www.ict.az/en
About GRENA:
The Georgian Research and Educational Networking Association GRENA was founded on July 26, 1999 for the development of Information Technologies (IT) in education and research fields. The main GRENA activities are:
Website: https://www.grena.ge/
Twitter: @G_R_E_N_A https://twitter.com/G_R_E_N_A
Facebook: @grena.grena.ge https://www.facebook.com/grena.grena.ge/
Contact: contact@grena.ge
About GÉANT:
GÉANT is Europe’s leading collaboration on network and related e-infrastructure and services for the benefit of research and education, contributing to Europe’s economic growth and competitiveness. The organisation develops, delivers and promotes advanced network and associated e-infrastructure services, and supports innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst its members, partners and the wider research and education networking community.
Website: www.geant.org
Twitter: @GEANTnews
Facebook: @GEANTcommunity
Contact: Laura.Durnford@geant.org
About DG NEAR:
The mission of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) is to take forward the European Union’s neighbourhood and enlargement policies, as well as to coordinate relations with European Economic Area – European Free Trade Association (EEA-EFTA) countries insofar as Commission policies are concerned. By implementing assistance actions in Europe’s eastern and southern neighbourhood, DG NEAR supports reform and democratic consolidation, and strengthens the prosperity, stability and security around Europe.
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/about/directorate-general/index_en.htm
Twitter: @eu_near https://twitter.com/eu_near
Prices for Internet connectivity for research and education communities in South Caucasus countries have dropped by more than 80% since the project first tendered in 2016. Procurement activities by EaPConnect, led by GÉANT, have helped to achieve this reduction. The money saved by the EaPConnect partners in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia can now be invested in the development of services and skills that will strengthen the national research and education networks (NRENs), better supporting the countries’ research and education communities and their ability to collaborate with peers in Europe and other world regions.
Improving sustainability and digital equality
EaPConnect strives to achieve better connectivity at lower prices because high-bandwidth, secure Internet networks that are dedicated for research and education form the basis service provided by project partner NRENs.
Veronika Di Luna of GÉANT, EaPConnect Project Manager, says: “By helping to reduce prices in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, the project aims to offer better value to users, to reduce the digital divide between EaP and other countries, and to maintain these positive effects in the long term.”
What has changed?
Geopolitical constraints, difficult terrain and a limited number of suppliers have previously kept market prices high in the South Caucasus countries. But the markets responded to the EaPConnect project’s buying capacity when tendering for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia for the third time. Other significant factors have been a growth in demand for bandwidth across these populations, the improved capacity of the pre-existing Black Sea fibre-optic link to Georgia that is run by Caucasus Online, and the entry of a new competitor to these markets – TransTeleCom - opening up a new geographical route.
Across Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, there has been an 83% drop in total price per Gbps (Gigabits per second) of network connectivity since 2016. The most dramatic decrease has been in Azerbaijan, where the original monthly price of 21,500 euro per Gbps was the highest across all six of the EaP countries, which include Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. The latest monthly price in Azerbaijan is only around 7% of that amount, at around 1,543 euro per Gbps, making it the third cheapest of the six countries overall. The monthly price per Gbps in Georgia has dropped by 78.5%, and in Armenia the decrease is 62.5%.
In this newest round of network procurements, the following changes occurred:
- GRENA, Georgia
Updated from two 1Gbps links to Frankfurt and Budapest with a 1Gbps backup, to a 3Gbps link to Frankfurt with provider Caucasus Online, plus two 1Gbps backup links with Caucasus Online and Silknet. - ASNET-AM, Armenia
Updated from a 1Gbps Frankfurt link with a 0.5Gbps backup, to a 2Gbps link to Frankfurt with supplier TransTeleCom, plus a 1Gbps Internet backup with provider GNC-Alfa. - AzScienceNet, Azerbaijan
Updated from a 1Gbps Frankfurt link and a 0.5Gbps Internet backup, to a 3Gbps Frankfurt link and a 1Gbps Internet backup both provided by TransTeleCom.
Ramaz Kvatadze CEO of GRENA says: “The GÉANT procurement team performed excellent work which resulted in a significant reduction of connectivity prices in the Caucasus region. The saved amount of funds will be allocated to the upgrade of the network infrastructure and development of new services. This is essential for the integration of the Georgian research and education community in the European Research Area.”
Erik Huizer, CEO of GÉANT says: “I am proud that GÉANT's procurement team has worked hard to support these achievements and we hope the trend towards more affordable network connectivity will continue. International collaboration in research and education depends on good connections - between networks and between people - and GÉANT is pleased to help strengthen both of these sorts of bonds, allowing ever greater opportunities for Eastern Partnership research and education communities to work with their peers in Europe and other world regions.”
Cooperation between the GÉANT community and commercial partners is vital to the successful deployment of these upgraded network links. The GRENA upgrade was completed on 25 May 2019; the ASNET-AM upgrade was completed on 31 October 2019, and the AzScienceNet upgrade is due for completion in November 2019.
FURTHER INFORMATION
About EaPConnect
The EaPConnect (Eastern Partnership Connect) project is integrating the Eastern Partnership national networks with the pan-European GÉANT network in order to decrease the ‘digital divide’ between countries and facilitate the participation of local scientists, students and academics in global research and education collaborations. All Eastern Partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – have received project-funded connectivity links and/or upgrades since EaPConnect began in July 2015. A new procurement to improve connectivity in Belarus is also nearing completion. By interconnecting the R&E communities across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region and with their European counterparts, EaPConnect is creating a gateway for talented individuals in the EaP countries to be truly global players.
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargements Negotiations (DG NEAR) is contributing 95% (€13m) towards the cost of the EaPConnect project, providing funding under Grant Agreement 2015-356353; the remaining 5% is co-funded by the six beneficiary countries.
Website: https://www.eapconnect.eu/
Twitter: @EaPConnect_News https://twitter.com/EaPConnect_News
Facebook: @EaPConnectProject https://www.facebook.com/EaPConnectProject/
Contact: Laura.Durnford@geant.org
About ASNET-AM:
The Academic Scientific Research Computer Network of Armenia (ASNET-AM) is the National Research and Education Network (NREN) of Armenia. Created in 1994 and having 25 years of experience in networking and information technologies, ASNET-AM provides various networking solutions to the academic, scientific, research, educational, cultural and other organisations of Armenia, which are engaged in scientific and educational activity.
The structure and policy of ASNET-AM operation was developed and implemented by the Institute for Informatics and Automation Problems (IIAP) of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA). ASNET-AM is a beneficiary partner of the EU-funded EaPConnect project.
Website: https://asnet.am
Twitter: @IIAP_ASNET_AM https://twitter.com/IIAP_ASNET_AM
Facebook: @Asnet-Am https://www.facebook.com/Asnet-Am-325757004245273/
About AzScienceNet and Institute of Information Technology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (IIT of ANAS)
AzScienceNet, the national R&E networking organisation for Azerbaijan, founded by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, has been serving the research community since the 1980s. Being the first point of Internet connectivity in the country led AzScienceNet to advanced global networking technology. Today, with a data centre and modern network connected via EaPConnect to GÉANT, AzScienceNet delivers most of the modern services such as connectivity, cloud, eduroam, videoconferencing, identity and security, distant education, web hosting, storage, TV broadcasting and VoIP. AzScienceNet is the e-infrastructure of national e-science and is developing the national open science cloud in correspondence with the European Open Science Cloud.
AzScienceNet has always been strong thanks to its parent organisation, the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS. IIT is Azerbaijan’s leading research organisation for Computer Science, Information Technology and Information Society. Besides its research centres and graduate education (Masters and PhD), IIT has unique education opportunities in IT for PhD students of all disciplines, possible via distance education technology. IIT is one of 40 research institutes in the government-funded Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, which conducts basic and applied research, coordinates research activities and educates most of PhD students in the country, works closely with government and forms science policy.
Website: www.ict.az/en
About GRENA:
The Georgian Research and Educational Networking Association GRENA was founded on July 26, 1999 for the development of Information Technologies (IT) in education and research fields. The main GRENA activities are:
- providing Information Technology services to users and implementation of new, innovative services;
- IT education;
- preparation and implementation of research and technology projects.
Website: https://www.grena.ge/
Twitter: @G_R_E_N_A https://twitter.com/G_R_E_N_A
Facebook: @grena.grena.ge https://www.facebook.com/grena.grena.ge/
Contact: contact@grena.ge
About GÉANT:
GÉANT is Europe’s leading collaboration on network and related e-infrastructure and services for the benefit of research and education, contributing to Europe’s economic growth and competitiveness. The organisation develops, delivers and promotes advanced network and associated e-infrastructure services, and supports innovation and knowledge-sharing amongst its members, partners and the wider research and education networking community.
Website: www.geant.org
Twitter: @GEANTnews
Facebook: @GEANTcommunity
Contact: Laura.Durnford@geant.org
About DG NEAR:
The mission of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) is to take forward the European Union’s neighbourhood and enlargement policies, as well as to coordinate relations with European Economic Area – European Free Trade Association (EEA-EFTA) countries insofar as Commission policies are concerned. By implementing assistance actions in Europe’s eastern and southern neighbourhood, DG NEAR supports reform and democratic consolidation, and strengthens the prosperity, stability and security around Europe.
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/about/directorate-general/index_en.htm
Twitter: @eu_near https://twitter.com/eu_near