Cybernet, an enterprise network and data service provider, has launched Pakistans first commercial cloud infrastructure, Pakistans very own, in a ceremony held in Islamabad yesterday. Cybernets cloud solution, dubbed as RapidCompute, is an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud platform that is said to be deployed and maintained by in-house expertise and support structure of Cybernet.
Shahid Ahmed Khan, CEO Cybernet, said that RapidCompute will enable businesses across Pakistan to avail important benefits of cloud services that were previously not available in the country. Mr. Khan claimed that locally deployed RapidCompute will reduce network latency by 90 percent for those accessing the cloud network with-in Pakistan.
Cybernet said that it took them an year or so to build the infrastructure from scratch to eventually launch the cloud solution that they are aiming to sell to small to large sized organizations in Pakistan and abroad. Cybernet said that RapidCompute is built on Cybernets datacenter facility in Karachi, while they are planning to establish more datacenters in Islamabad, Lahore and another in Karachi too. Mr. Shahid revealed that Cybernet has plans to invest in cloud computing beyond Pakistan as well. Company said that its aim is to provide the local businesses and organizations with an opportunity to experience high performing, flexible, robust and cost-effective computing infrastructure with zero capital to start with. While they will have to only pay for the resources they will use. You can access official website of RapidCompute by clicking this link: http://www.rapidcompute.com/ Pricing: RapidComputes pricing seems to be fair. Given the network is deployed in Pakistan, this is probably the best they could offer. Understandably, network bandwidth is pricier than any foreign competition.
You can click on this link to have an idea of cost for a cloud server based on your requirements. A detailed service review on RapidCompute with comments on after sale support is likely to come in soon. Meanwhile, you can sign-up for the service and start configuring and running cloud instances. Cybernet said that payment options include bank deposit, cash deposit at banks and CyberNet offices. Payments through Credit Card will be made available soon.
Rapid Compute launched in Pakistan
From the Newspaper | Jamal Shahid | 2 days ago
– AFP (File Photo)
ISLAMABAD, May 29: Introducing the latest in a long list of information technology services, the Rapid Compute was officially launched on Tuesday that provided infrastructure as a service to users.
Launched by the Cybernet, the service focused on corporate market where small or big enterprises with uncertain business futures would not have to invest in IT hardware infrastructure. “Companies no longer have to invest in installing servers, air conditioning for their hardware, power setups or engage manpower to run IT related business,” said the vice-president (corporate sales), Cybernet, Imran Khan explaining how all of the above was now available on-line. Speakers at the launching ceremony explained how the new virtual machines worked. They said that Rapid Compute could allow organisations to focus on their core businesses by simply creating their own servers and load their own
programmes/softwares, and save data. “The system is 99 per cent resilient/secure and nobody could access the particular server except the user who created it by entering his/her log-in and password,” said the vice-president. The Rapid Compute was not only safe, according to speakers, but users could also delete the server created and all other data linked that particular server. The system was ‘pay as you go’, said Imran Khan adding, “This is a totally automated system where clients only pay for whatever they require with no human interventions and with return money policy. The speakers said that while information technology giants like Amazon.com, Rackspace, Insta Compute and Korea Telecom to mention some international brands were providing virtual infrastructure, Rapid Compute in Pakistan was the first of its kind. “This is a localised service where companies will not have to log-in into networks outside of Pakistan and reduce latency,” said Imran Khan also elaborating on almost zero costs of investing on buying machinery. The acting secretary for Ministry of Information Technology Farooq Ahmed Awan cut the ribbon and pushed the key in a laptop to kick start the system introducing it for the first time in Pakistan. http://dawn.com/2012/05/30/rapid-compute-launched-in-pakistan/
