The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) today awarded Optus a managed network services contract worth $186.5 million (exc. GST) over four years. The contract, which was awarded following a competitive tender, represents the largest contract win to date for Optus in the Federal Government sector.

Under the terms of the contract, Optus will provide managed network services, including data and voice carriage, telephony, wide and local area networks, video conferencing and call centre infrastructure and services.

John Simon, Managing Director, Optus Enterprise and Business Group said, "Optus has a long history of working with Federal Government agencies, such as Medicare Australia and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, on the implementation and management of large-scale IP-based networks and systems.

"The awarding of this contract confirms confidence in our ability to deliver value, innovation and superior service to major government agencies as well as our vast experience in the deployment of IP technologies. It marks a major milestone for Optus in the Federal Government sector and follows hot on the heels of our recent win with ANZ Bank."

Optus will also implement and manage a new application-aware IP network to more than seventy ATO offices utilising the Optus Evolve network. Optus Evolve will provide the ATO with increased flexibility for the delivery of IP-based services, including IP telephony, which will be delivered to more than 23,000 ATO employees nationally.

In addition, Optus will manage the implementation of an IP contact centre solution which will allow the ATO to better manage resources and skills across its contact centres nationally by merging them into a single 'virtual' contact centre that will use a network queuing platform to distribute calls across the national contact centre network. This centralised 'virtual' contact centre will provide the ATO with the flexibility and scale it requires to respond quickly and efficiently to Government initiatives.

"By implementing the latest generation of application-aware IP networks in Optus Evolve, combined with the integration of specialist IP contact centre functionality, the ATO will be able to deliver a broader range of services to the community in a more cost effective and efficient manner. We look forward to working with the ATO and assisting them in providing an even greater level of service to their constituents through the use of IP-based technologies," Mr Simon said.

For further information:
Elizabeth Greene
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850