Aussie telco Optus has developed a unified data platform (UDP) with Microsoft, Tech Mahindra, and Databricks, as part of its cloud migration.
The UDP replaces Optus' legacy on-premise data warehouses with a Microsoft cloud-based solution located in Australia.
According to Optus, the migration has enabled the telco to reduce operational processing time for core loads by 50 percent and data engineering pipeline development time by up to 20 percent.
The company is also using AI and machine learning technology with Microsoft Azure.
“Optus is thrilled to enable our people to use our data to make more insightful decisions with our completed migration to a unified data platform,” said Mark Potter, CIO at Optus. “By collaborating with Microsoft, Tech Mahindra, and Databricks, not only will our employees benefit from a better user experience and reduced latency, but our teams now can introduce and work across some of the most advanced, cutting-edge technology available."
Sarah Carney, national CTO at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, added: “This partnership showcases how organizations can unlock the full potential of their data and embrace cutting-edge technologies like generative AI to deliver better experiences for customers and employees.
"By leveraging Azure’s scalable infrastructure, Optus is accelerating innovation and achieving real impact across the region. Microsoft is proud to support this transformation.”
Potter told ARN that its migration to the cloud came as the company's existing on-premise solution was nearing the end of its lifecycle, forcing Optus to decide whether to upgrade it or to move to a cloud-based solution.
Potter added: "We haven’t gone all-in on the cloud, but rather, we’ve been very deliberate about where the cloud adds value and where it might introduce risks. This shift has been vital for cost management, and it’s been impressive to see how the consortium has worked together to optimize costs, understanding that if the investment is right, this platform will continue to develop and provide long-term returns.”
Towards the end of last year, Optus sold its Uecomm subsidiary to Superloop, including 2,000 km of high-capacity fiber assets, and access to more than 1,900 buildings and 50 data centers.
The telco experienced a lengthy outage in 2023, which saw both the CEO and head of networks resigning as a result.
Microsoft has three cloud regions in Australia: Australia Central, located in Canberra, which launched in 2018, and Australia East and Southeast in New South Wales and Victoria, respectively, both of which opened in 2014. In December 2024, the company revealed it would be launching an Azure cloud Edge region in Perth, Australia.
