System integrator Integ Communications will convert the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT) national and international telephony network to voice over IP in a deal worth more than AU$6 million.

As part of the AU$6,481,120 contract, Integ will first deploy Alcatel-Lucent IP telephony to every DFAT user in Australia. The equipment will replace Ericsson PABX hardware and Telstra's Spectrum virtual PABX service.

Overseas, Alcatel-Lucent IP gear will replace some 100, primarily Mitel-branded PABXs. These provide telephony to around 5,500 extensions in locations such as High Commissions and Embassies.

The agency has 3,400 employees in Australia and abroad.

The move to IP telephony will see DFAT staff able to use unified messaging, PC telephony features and collaborative applications like Web conferencing.

"The solution designed for DFAT is for the deployment and management of a highly secure and mission-critical communications network, initially in Australia and then globally," said Ian Poole, Integ's chief executive officer.

Integ's win could provide more dividends in future as the contract can be used by other government agencies purchasing telecommunications services.

The contract is the second for Integ's parent company, UXC Limited, with DFAT in the last month. DFAT has contracted the company to develop some of its key applications.