Incumbent provider UXC has secured the final tranche of the NSW transport department’s milestone infrastructure outsourcing refresh.
The company, which was acquired by global IT giant CSC in 2015, has won a $113 million contract with Transport for NSW that will see it replace the agency's seven incompatible legacy networks.
The managed network services agreement was the last bundle of work to be market tested under Transport’s next-generation infrastructure services program, which has already seen lucrative deals handed to IBM (data centres), NEC (end user computing) and Optus/Telstra (fixed voice and mobile).
UXC has managed to hold onto its role as the primary network services provider to the Transport cluster, which contract listings show dates back to 2012.
Under the new five-year deal, UXC will be put to work consolidating the seven networks used by 25,000 Transport staff across hundreds of NSW locations.
“We run the largest transport system in the country and are responsible for delivering the biggest infrastructure budget in the state’s history - but our out-dated and clunky IT systems mean our people are wasting time and money that could be spent making a difference for customers,” Transport secretary Tim Reardon said in a statement.
“This upgrade will bring the whole transport team onto a single, fast and modern network, allowing staff to collaborate and work anywhere they need to – across locations or in the field – saving time and money.
“Everything we do at Transport for NSW, from controlling traffic lights and rail signals, developing timetables, maintaining assets and paying suppliers, relies on modern IT systems, so this upgrade means better outcomes for our customers."
The network replacement comes on top of efforts already underway to install a single cloud email solution across the cluster, consolidate 20 existing data centres into the GovDC facilities, and roll out mobile devices and upgraded operating systems across Transport for NSW.
The cluster is also trudging along with its $151 million organisation-wide SAP ERP consolidation, which has attracted the attention of the auditor-general for running more than a year over schedule.
“It’s no secret technology upgrades can be complex and organisations often face hiccups along the way, but we’re putting every step in place to ensure we’re sticking to time and budget on these major upgrades, and that we’re able to respond quickly to tackle any problems as they arise,” Reardon said.
