At the PoP and Redecomep National Meeting, the institutionalized and developed metropolitan networks, with advanced level of maturity, were awarded gold and silver certificates, respectively. After receiving the gold certificate, the Gigacandanga, from the Federal District, and GigaNatal, Natal (RN), networks told their experiences.

 “GigaCandanga has been operating for 11 years and, since the beginning, we believe in the proposal made by RNP that networks should be self-sufficient and autonomous. We are a non-profit civil association today. We have a short period of association and we are at a transition period, but we believe that the change will be positive for autonomy and ability to offer new resources,” said GigaCandanga President, Leonardo Lazarte.

GigaNatal's experience was, however, different, but equally successful. “In Natal, we created the Advanced Networks Center, which houses PoP and Redecomep, due to the need of a real existence within the university organization chart, because UFRN is highly regarded in Rio Grande do Norte. Thus, we are a supplementary unit, linked to the deanship. We have created a statute where the center is responsible for hosting the PoP and the operational services of the GigaNatal network. We have a seat at the university staff meeting, and the sectors have autonomy to execute the budget,” detailed the administrative coordinator of PoP-RN/GigaNatal Network, Sergio Fialho.

Eight Metropolitan Networks received silver certificates for being on their way to institutionalization. They included Remessa (Salvador), MetroPoa (Porto Alegre), Redecomep (Campo Grande), MetroCG (Campina Grande), MetroJP (João Pessoa), Rede Poti (Teresina), Remep-FLN (Florianópolis), and MetroGyn (Goiânia). “All metropolitan networks are of paramount importance to RNP strategy. For the networks struggling to get there, we have prepared diagnostics for each network and improvement plans, with our recommendations.”