NSW Government chooses Macquarie Telecom as an authorised Voice and Mobile Services Provider

Macquarie Telecom retains access to $250 million NSW Government telco market

Sydney, Australia – 10th April 2007 – Following a highly competitive tender process, the Government of New South Wales today announced it has selected Macquarie Telecom as one of its providers of voice and mobile services.

A maximum of four providers were appointed to the Authorised Supplier Panel for voice and mobile service under the GTA.

Under the General Telecommunications Agreement (GTA) all NSW Government agencies and approved users can purchase Macquarie Telecom services for fixed voice and mobile voice/data.

The tender was awarded for an initial three year term with options for two extensions of one year each.

The NSW Department of Commerce managed the tender process on behalf of the Government of New South Wales. The GTA will replace existing voice and mobile panel arrangements under the Department of Information Technology and Management (DITM) arrangements to which Macquarie Telecom was also an approved supplier.

Management and reporting tools to give NSW Government greater cost control

The NSW Government has estimated that, in 2005, it had an annual expenditure of more than $250 million for telecommunications services.

David Tudehope, Macquarie Telecom's Chief Executive, said, “Macquarie Telecom continues to experience strong growth, with major customer wins in the business sector. Our appointment to the Authorised Supplier Panels under GTA ensures we retain access to the significant opportunities for the company in the State Government market.”

The “smart buy” electronic procurement process means government agencies can purchase Macquarie Telecom services without having to undergo their own tendering process.

“With the due diligence already carried out by the Department of Commerce, the hard work has already been done for the agencies,” said Tudehope.

“The real value Macquarie Telecom brings is personal accountable service and advanced management and reporting tools. We customise voice and mobile services to best meet the needs of the individual agency – giving them greater flexibility around solutions such as billing systems and increased cost control for improved budgeting certainty.”

Macquarie Telecom is also one of the West Australian Government’s mandatory providers of voice and data services.

GTA assists Government cost-savings

The GTA is a key part of the Government of New South Wale's procurement reform process as outlined by the Minister for Commerce in the Government ICT Strategic Plan, People First – a new direction for ICT in NSW (launched in July 2006)

The Plan sets the framework to achieve substantial savings through the aggregation of purchasing, simplification of buying processes and establishment of mandatory contracts for all agencies.

The GTA is also designed to help Government realise reduced charges for telecommunications services. The new scheme will be adopted by agencies on a phased approach. Initially business will be awarded to supply the following agencies:

• Department of Commerce
• Department of Education and Training
• Roads and Traffic Authority
• Department of Natural Resources
• Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability

The combined annual telecommunications spend for these agencies was approximately $24 million prior to the application of savings from the GTA process.

According to the NSW Department of Commerce successful tenderers were chosen based on their ability to demonstrate a range of criteria including:

• Functional and Technical Capability
• Customer Support Capability
• Price
• Risk to Government
• Priority access policy – creation of a strong training culture/commitment to training

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About Macquarie Telecom

Macquarie Telecom, a leading supplier of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions – including voice, data, mobile and hosting – specialising in the business and government markets. Its dedicated managed hosting and security facility, the Intellicentre, is certified to ISO 27001 and DSD Gateway security standards.

Macquarie Telecom provides services to 3000 business and government customers in Australia and Asia, supporting more than one million business users at work every day. Founded in July 1992, it is one of Australasia’s first deregulated telecommunications companies. It expanded its operation into Asia in 2000, and holds carrier licences in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.