TelstraClear snares contract

TelstraClear has signed a telecommunications contract with Customs worth up to $10 million over five years.

TelstraClear will provide data network and voice-over-internet services, plus mobile and phone services.

TelstraClear head of business Michael Boggs says it will connect 40 Customs sites nationwide, including airports.

A Customs spokesperson says TelstraClear was the incumbent internet provider but won the mobile services and phone services deals respectively from Vodafone and Telecom's Gen-i. TelstraClear will provide up to five times more network bandwidth under the deal, which will help improve the performance and reliability of its SmartGate kiosks, the spokesperson says.

The automated kiosks replace manned Customs booths and use e-passport readers, cameras and facial recognition technology to check people's identities.

"It will also enable growth in passengers eligible to use SmartGate and passenger numbers overall to be managed effectively."

Customs expects to process about 50m passengers in the next five years, and assess and facilitate $500 billion worth of trade.

It has about 1220 staff.

TelstraClear has been selected by the Research and Education Advanced Network to provide the international component of a $43m ultrafast broadband network connecting universities and research establishments from November.

It will supply fibre-optic connections for the network until December.

From that point, Wellington telecommunications company FX Networks will take over.

TelstraClear has successfully tested a network upgrade that will let it offer cable customers in Wellington, Kapiti and Christchurch internet download speeds of 100 megabits per second.

It says it expects to offer new plans with faster headline speeds "in the future".

- © Fairfax NZ News