Alice Chambers |
Telstra, a telecommunications company in Australia, will deliver Microsoft’s artificial intelligence systems via its Intercity Fibre Network across cities in Australia.
By working with Telstra, Microsoft aims to better meet the growing demand for AI technology in Australia and provide faster and more powerful AI services to its customers.
“As AI technologies generate and process large amounts of data, they require connectivity that is fast, reliable, secure and scalable,” said Microsoft in a recent press release. “Telstra’s investment in its Intercity Fibre Network will provide this connectivity, extending Microsoft’s AI infrastructure so that organisations, industries and Australia as a whole can continue to leverage the transformative benefits of AI.”
Telstra is also investing in 21,000 Copilot for Microsoft 365 licences to help its employees better service customers, following a successful trial of 300 early adopters. Microsoft says this is the largest deployment of the generative AI service in Australia and one of the biggest carried out by any telecommunications company in the world.
“We’re dedicated to equipping our people with the best AI technology and upskilling them to thrive in the workforce of the future,” said Vicki Brady, CEO of Microsoft. “Giving our team access to Copilot not only gives them the space and time to spend on more meaningful tasks, but also fosters a culture of continuous learning, improvement and innovation as we drive digital and AI transformation through our business.”
Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Microsoft said: “Our strategic partnership with Telstra reflects Microsoft’s commitment to empowering organisations’ AI transformation responsibly and securely. By extending our AI infrastructure, we can continue supporting our customers and partners as they unlock new opportunities and realise meaningful business value with AI.”