Optus and Vocus will provide telecommunications services to Home Affairs under a new arrangement that splits the work into five streams. The department announced last year that it would restructure its contracts to select best-in-class vendors for each capability and reduce technology and acquisition risk.
Vocus secured two contracts in December, one for data carriage and internet worth over $16 million, and another for fixed voice worth more than $7.5 million. Optus, the department’s former main telco provider, won two contracts this week, one for managed network services worth more than $92 million, and another for unified communications services worth more than $65 million.
A Home Affairs spokesperson told iTnews that the Optus contracts cover the operation and maintenance of the department’s network infrastructure, as well as IP telephony, audio and video conferencing, desktop messaging, and broadcast/streaming services. The contracts also include services for the Australian Border Force.
The department said the new arrangement reduces risk, “particularly in terms of business continuity, and drives competitive outcomes and contract flexibility”. The services will be delivered to all staff in over 300 locations.
The department is still procuring the fifth stream of telco services, which is for mobile devices.
