Tasmania to refresh govt network

The state currently contracts Telstra for data networking services purchased by all of Tasmania's government departments, as well as some statutory authorities, councils, schools and hospitals.

However that business has been put back on the market over the weekend, with the Telstra agreements -- known collectively as "Networking Tasmania" -- due to expire in February 2007.

Tender documents released by the government detail its vision for a new system -- "Networking Tasmania II" -- to be founded on a separate Internet Protocol (IP) network for each government department or other organisation, with additional links to join them together.

"Networking Tasmania customers current purchase 582 permanent services to 500 sites, 1,330 non-permanent services (Internet virtual private network or dial-up) and more than 200 value-added services," the documents stated.

While the state's primary needs are for data networking services, it also requires suppliers for Internet services (including, for example, Internet antivirus services), messaging services (for example e-mail) and directory services.

"The government will also consider proposals for the supply of fixed-voice services which would integrate well with the data communications services and with the government's existing voice services," the documents continued.

"Note that the government has non-exclusive arrangements in place for the supply of fixed-voice services and is not planning to replace the bulk of these at this time."

The government will notify successful tenderers in October this year, with the new network due to be fully commissioned by November 2007.