Australia's National Broadband Network Company Appoints IBM for Core Business Function Hosting

SYDNEY, May 19  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has been selected as the information technology (IT) infrastructure hosting provider for the core business functions of the Australian Government's National Broadband Network Company, NBN Co.

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The Australian Federal Government's multi-billion dollar investment in the National Broadband Network represents one of the largest nation-building infrastructure projects in Australian history connecting 90% of Australian premises with fiber-based services.  IBM's solution will support business critical systems which will enhance NBN Co's open access high speed broadband platform for Australian businesses and consumers.

As part of the two-year agreement, IBM will host NBN Co systems such as procurement, asset management and accounting, and will be able to flex up or down as business needs require.  IBM will provide NBN Co with a scalable infrastructure solution, which will include acquisition of servers, storage and operating systems and a flexible hosting environment capable of supporting NBN Co's rapidly growing operations.  The hosting platform will be based upon ultra-thin, energy efficient System x3650 server technology delivered in a secure, high-availability data center environment.

According to Kevin Brown, Head of Corporate Services at NBN Co, the systems would enable effective project and document management for the large, complex and significant engineering initiative that NBN Co is undertaking.

"These are key IT systems and business processes necessary to effectively and efficiently manage a company such as NBN Co," said Kevin Brown.  "With IBM's help, we are putting the best systems in place to ensure we can be accountable for every dollar and provide the right foundation for a rapidly growing national company."

"IBM's technology and services capabilities will provide NBN Co with the flexible, robust infrastructure platform it needs to deliver this large-scale complex engineering initiative," said Glen Boreham, IBM Australia and New Zealand Managing Director.  "A successfully delivered enhanced broadband platform is a vital step towards a smarter nation, enabling Australians to be better connected, more productive and enjoy a better quality of life."

The contract was signed in April 2010.

About NBN Co

For more information about NBN Co, visit http://www.nbnco.com.au/

About IBM

For more information about IBM's Smarter Planet vision, visit http://www-07.ibm.com/innovation/au/smarterplanet/

SOURCE IBM