The deal will see the telecommunications companies provide a fully managed Internet Protocol - Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN), utilising multi-protocol label switching technology, to the offices of Marsh throughout the region.
"We have 33 offices in 13 countries throughout Asia Pacific, and the joint ability of Optus and SingTel to deliver a state-of-the-art fully managed IP network to all the countries where we have a presence made them the obvious choice," said Ken Hall, IT director, Asia Pacific of Marsh.
The data service, based on Optus' OPI Direct Plus and SingTel's Connect Plus IP-VPN, covers Marsh's operations in Asia, Australia, Fiji, and connection to New Zealand and the United States.
The deal represents a welcome marketing statement for the Singapore-based telecommunications heavyweight SingTel, which came under heavy fire for allegedly overpaying for the Australian based telco when it coughed up around AU$14 billion for the privilege last year. Telecommunications analysts also questioned the synergies that SingTel would in fact be able to extract from the acquisition.
Optus has also signed an AU$3.2 million two-year contract to manage all Marsh's voice services in Australia.
