The ACT employment market is set to benefit from a new $1.1 billion Defence contract awarded to Telstra, bringing 230 new jobs to the capital.
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The six-and-a-half year telecommunications contract, signed on Thursday, is part of an upgrade of Defence's communications technology, enabling better integration of fixed-line telecommunications with satellite and tactical networks.
The project, which is the largest customer undertaking in Telstra's history, will create 350 new jobs in total, 230 of them in Canberra, including project managers and various IT specialists.
Telstra chief executive officer David Thodey said the project was aimed at firming up Defence communications for the next decade, and would support Defence at home and abroad.
"The use of technology such as unified communications, advanced video conference, as well as tablet and smartphone usage will provide a vital link connecting troops, commanders, bases and allies around the world," he said.
The Defence telecommunications network includes 430 sites across the country, supporting 100,000 users in Australia and around the world.
