Telstra gets $1.1bn Defence telecoms contract

The Australia Department of Defence has signed a $1.1 billion contract with Telstra for the provision of telecommunications services.

The six-and-a-half year contract will enable Defence to transform its communications technology including better integrating fixed telecommunications with satellite and tactical networks.

Defence Chief Information Officer Dr Peter Lawrence said the transformation of its network was central to wider strategic reforms throughout the department.

According to Telstra, the agreement represents the largest customer undertaking in the company’s history and will support military operations at home and abroad. The contract will see 350 new positions filled to serve the contract.

The use of technology such as unified communications, videoconferencing as well as tablet and smartphone usage will provide a link connecting troops, commanders, bases and allies around the world.

Defence will partner with Telstra to implement the transformed network solution, which has a targeted completion date of mid-2016.

The Defence telecommunications network includes networks at 430 sites in Australia, supporting some 100,000 users in Australia and overseas. Defence say the project will significantly improve network performance and meet capability requirements out to 2023.