Telecom NZ hires Infosys for testing

Telecom NZ has engaged outsourcing and IT consultant Infosys to improve its testing and up-skill its workers.

"We're trying to focus our assets on one particular area that required attention — and that's testing," Telecom NZ general manager technology operations Bradley de Souza told ZDNet.com.au.

Telecom NZ has been "aggressively" developing new products and services, de Souza said, giving an example of those products on the telco's new mobile network.

"As products and services become more simple, the more complex the system has to be underneath to compensate," de Souza said. Given Infosys had carried out testing for thousands of customers, it could improve Telecom NZ's testing and teach its employees how to improve product functionality and quality, he said.

The engagement started 90 days ago. At any one time, 30 to 50 Infosys employees work within Telecom NZ, de Souza said. The arrangement was expected to continue for at least the next six to 12 months.

Telecom hoped to reduce its testing timeline by 15 per cent and cut associated costs by 20 per cent, while maintaining quality.

When asked if he believed Infosys would do more work for the telco, de Souza couldn't say with certainty. "Ultimately they have competencies in other areas. We're very pleased with what we've got," he said.

He said that the company had held a tender process for the contract and had found it couldn't find international best practices in testing domestically.

Infosys has also opened its first official office in New Zealand to manage clients such as Telecom NZ. Up to 100 employees will operate from New Zealand at any one time.

"Our business in New Zealand has grown steadily over the last 12 months, so we wanted to be closer to the action," Jackie Korhonen, chief executive and managing director of Infosys in Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement.