$500,000 Telstra contract a boost to data services - and Australia's IT skills

Monday, 1 March 1999

Telstra has awarded a $500,000 contract to the University of Adelaide's Teletraffic Research Centre (TRC) (through LUminis Pty Ltd) to carry out ground-breaking research and development work.

The two-year contract continues a highly valuable 13-year partnership between the TRC and Telstra, which has resulted in major gains for Australia's telecommunications services.

As part of this latest contract the TRC will conduct research which will enable Telstra to design more efficient and effective data services.

Data services are emerging as the most important of all Telstra's telecommunications services - even more so than standard phonecalls. Because it is a rapidly expanding field, there is a real need to research the systems involved to help maintain and even improve quality of service.

Dr Hugh Bradlow, Telstra's Director of Technology Strategy & Research, says the contract is a win for both the University and Telstra.

"Telstra is delighted to award this important work to the University of Adelaide. "The Teletraffic Research Centre has a world-renowned reputation in the highly complex area of mathematical modelling of telecommunications systems. Their work has greatly assisted Telstra in engineering its networks and products for superior performance," Dr Bradlow says.

"The excellent theoretical research in a commercially valuable form has enabled Telstra to achieve breakthroughs for industry and research."

The Australian IT industry, associated industries and government have widely acknowledged a looming technology skills crisis in this country.

Telstra and the University of Adelaide are already working together to assist in bridging this gap.

Dr Peter Taylor, Co-Director of the University of Adelaide's Teletraffic Research Centre, says the contract provides TRC staff with real challenges that will lead to practical, cutting-edge experience for their students.

"The industry is crying out for university graduates who have practical IT skills. The TRC, and other areas within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences, aim to do just that - provide students with knowledge that goes beyond the theoretical and which can be applied in the real world," Dr Taylor says.

"An important area of skills shortage, Internet Protocol expertise, is being addressed right here at the Teletraffic Research Centre."

Telstra invested a total of $2 million with university-based centres of expertise in the last financial year, including the University of Adelaide's TRC.

A signing ceremony to formalise the contract between Telstra and the TRC was held at the University of Adelaide on Monday, March 1 at 3.00pm.

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