Verizon and Mac Telecom join telco services panel

Macquarie Telecom and Verizon Australia are the latest in a slew of telcos to be appointed to the Australian Government Information Management Office’s (AGIMO), telco service panel, with just “one or two” more to be announced.

Speaking to Computerworld Australia, AGIMO first assistant secretary, John Sheridan, said the agency was still in final negotiations with “a few” companies around the Telecommunications Internet Based Network Connection Services (IBNC) Panel, which was first announced via tender in August 2010.

“It’s really a matter between us and the vendors or the suppliers as to when they’re going to sign, obviously we’re not going to have them open forever, but equally some companies take longer than others and we want to make sure we have a good panel,” Sheridan said.

“We know some companies take longer than others and we understand the commercial realities of doing business and therefore we’re prepared to let them work their way through it up to a certain point.”

The telcos will join the likes of Telstra, Fujitsu, Nextgen, AAPT, TransACT, Dimension Data, Alcatel Lucent and Optus in supplying internet carriage and connection services to businesses and other agencies for an initial term of three years.

The initial term may be extended by the Department of Finance and Deregulation for a further two, 12-month periods.

Macquarie Telecom managing director, Aidan Tudehope, said the telco would provide Internet Protocol Carriage Services and Major Internet Connection Services to ensure accessibly, availability and efficient use of panel resources.

“We firmly believe the promise of IP is finally being realised,” he said in a statement.

“The panel will enable the Australian Government to maximise the benefits of ubiquitous broadband as the NBN (National Broadband Network) becomes a reality.”

Follow Chloe Herrick on Twitter: @chloe_CW

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU

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