Optus Business enters $12m partnership with Cisco

Australia's Optus Business has teamed up with Cisco to develop new technological capabilities aimed at helping local businesses and government become more agile in the innovation economy.

The companies will invest $12 million over three years to develop local capabilities based on cyber security, the cloud, the IoT and future networks.

The co-investment is designed to prototype, develop and launch new capabilities in collaboration with customers.

Optus Business managing director John Paitaridis said the investment is in line with the current Australian government's focus on transitioning the nation from a resource-based to an innovation-based economy.

“Many of the services and capabilities our economy will need tomorrow don’t exist today. This alliance with Cisco bolsters our commitment to bridge this innovation gap for business and government, to help them navigate a complex and evolving technology landscape,” he said.

“Innovation and responding to change are critical challenges for all Australian businesses and enterprises, to ensure they adapt to changing customer needs and market forces.”

Optus Business is a subsidiary of Australia's second-largest operator Optus, which is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of SingTel.

Optus Business has a history of collaboration with Cisco, including being named the vendor's 2015 Australian partner of the year.