TelstraClear(MIS100 2010)

By Jess Meyer | Thursday, May 27 2010

2009 ranking: 55

Senior IS executive: Andrew Crabb, head of networks and services
Reports to: Allan Freeth, CEO
Size of IS shop: 225

PCs: 1864
Mobile PCs: 360
Terminals: 750
Hand-held devices: 300
Total screens: 3274

Industry: Information
PC environment: Dell; Compaq; Toshiba; Mac; Windows 2000, XP
Server environment: IBM; Compaq; HDS; Sun; Dell; McAfee Web Shield; HP; MVS; Citrix Access Gateways; Windows 2003, 2000, NT; Linux SUSE; Red Hat
DBMS: DB2, Access, Oracle, Sybase, MySQL, Postgres; Smallworld, SQL
Address: Smales Farm Office Park Corner of Northcote and Taharato Roads, Auckland
Website: www.telstraclear.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Desktop virtualisation; infrastructure refresh/virtualisation.

Telecommunications provider TelstraClear is looking at an infrastructure refresh for 2010, as well as significant
investment in server and desktop virtualisation, according to head of networks and services, Andrew Crabb. “IT will become more critical to the delivery of cost savings and efficiencies in FY10 and beyond,” he says. Implementing technology systems and processes that deliver on objectives while saving money, is crucial to the business as a whole.

This was well illustrated when TelstraClear partnered with Canon to replace an ageing fleet of more than 133 laser printers and MFPs with just 72. While there was no print cost measurement in place prior to the change, default black and white printing and a massive reduction in the number of required toner cartridges will save the company $200,000 annually, alone. Additionally, pressure on the TelstraClear help desk team has been reduced, as the new print technology allows the fleet to automatically report service requirements directly to Canon. New areas of focus for TelstraClear this year will include knowledge management and cloud computing, while business intelligence and unified communications investments will carry over from last year. A significant investment in expanding TelstraClear’s network with its Local Loop Unbundling project has opened access across the country to more than 220,000 customers. Coupled with a refreshed and competitive mobile strategy for business customers and consumers, TelstraClear is aggressively attacking the market. Further investment in cloud services in also on the radar.