Luxottica, the parent company of Australia's largest eyewear chain OPSM, has signed a $15 million, three year whole-of-business communications deal with Optus.

The telco will provide voice, data and mobile services to more than 730 Luxottica sites in Australia and New Zealand.

Luxottica will migrate its diverse legacy communications networks onto the Optus Evolve advanced communications network, which is an IP MPLS network for converged business applications.

Alphawest, Optus' IT services subsidiary, will also provide a range of managed services to a number of core Luxottica locations, including its head office.

In addition to providing voice and data services, Optus will support more than 300 mobile and Blackberry users within the organisation.

Luxottica, which trades under the OPSM, Sunglass Hut, Laubman & Pank and Budget Eyewear brands in Australia, is the largest eyewear retailer and manufacturer in the world.

The company is experiencing rapid growth, evident in its acquisition of Oakley in late 2007, another eyewear retailer.

Luxottica Asia Pacific CIO, Richard Deck, said the company has seen enormous growth in the Asia Pacific region, with Australia leading the charge.

To help manage this growth, Deck said the company was looking for a service provider who understood the cultural and business challenges that come with integrating multiple businesses as well as the technical expertise of migrating to a common platform.

"Optus' regional presence, through its affiliates in the SingTel Group, was an important factor in ourdecision to award this contract, as was its focus on customer experience," he said.

Our key goal is to provide the best customer experience; by leveraging the new Optus Evolve network we will achieve this, using techniques such as digital signage, unified communications and Web-based SMS.

Optus Business managing director, John Simon, said, Otpus is committed to helping customers gain and maintain a competitive advantage through the use of innovative technologies.