Telstra inks five-year data network deal with Westpac

Telstra announced today it had entered a five-year deal with the Westpac Group to provide the bank with its domestic data network, primary internet access, outbound voice and Pacific Bank telecommunications services.

Westpac’s Pacific Bank subsidiary operates in several Pacific Islands nations, including Samoa, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

According to Telstra, the new deal with Australia’s second-largest bank is expected to accelerate the delivery of Westpac's '2017 strategy' and support the business as it embraces "the digital future".

Although Telstra has long been Westpac's telecommunications provider, the new agreement will see the corporate and branch communications network of Westpac's subsidiary, St George, make the transition to the Telstra network, with 300 sites scheduled to be upgraded to a fibre-based service.

According to Telstra, the solution is set to open up a "portfolio of new opportunities" for the bank, with further growth in its service offering a top priority, aimed at enhancing customer experience — a key consideration under Westpac's 2017 strategy.

"Our solutions will provide Westpac with the platform, through a single network, to put the business ahead of the pack in a rapidly changing digital world while also maintaining momentum in its broader technology modernisation journey," said David Burns, group managing director of Telstra's global enterprise and services.

"This new chapter sees an expansion of our existing relationship with Westpac, and will support the business with its digital future strategy across all brands within the Westpac Group.

"It has been a truly collaborative story to date, with our tailored solutions helping the business to put the infrastructure in place, to not only achieve its technology transformation but also to support the wider business objectives for 2017," he said.

Westpac announced in November last year that it would work towards sharing a common infrastructure access layer with St George, with the core platform consideration scheduled to be completed in 2017.