Optus and Cisco partner to launch cloud calling service

John Paitaridis (Optus Business)

Optus Business has become the first telco provider to launch a new cloud-based call service with Cisco. 

The telco will use Cisco’s BroadCloud calling platform to supply businesses with voice and collaboration services over IP-based networks from June.

The service will include enterprise telephony, native mobility and conferencing and collaboration tools.

“With Optus cloud calling, enterprises will be able to capture cloud computing’s business efficiencies, cost benefits and competitive advantages for their telephony services,” Optus Business managing director John Paitaridis said.

“Optus is pleased that we can bring these benefits to Australian enterprises in partnership with Cisco, the leading unified communications and collaboration vendor globally."

In addition, Optus will also provide an end-to-end managed service bundled with its Evolve Voice SIP trunking and business mobile services.

According to Optus, it is currently the only telco in Australia to deploy the BroadCloud platform as a complete cloud-based solution.

The announcement follows Cisco’s acquisition of BroadSoft for US$1.9 billion, which it closed in February this year. The deal gave the networking vendor a stronger foothold in selling unified communications software to big telecommunications firms such as Optus.

“With tight integration to Cisco’s Webex solutions, organisations will gain access to advanced audio and video conferencing and team collaboration applications,” Cisco Australia CEO Ken Boal said.

"When combined with Optus Cloud Calling, customers will have access to an advanced collaboration tool set, that is fast to deploy, flexible, scalable and with a predictable cost."

The deal continues Optus Business and Ciscos’ long-term collaboration, which has spanned 20 years.

In 2016, the two agreed to invest $12 million to aid the local development and capabilities in cyber security, cloud, internet of things (IoT) and networking for the upcoming three years.

Since then, they have collaborated on initiatives including an Optus Business Contact Centre, Interactive Voice Response solution, a video-conferencing-as-a-service (VCaaS) and integrations with Meraki.

Optus Wholesale previously launched a BroadSoft-powered, cloud-based unified communications offering before Cisco’s intention to acquire the latter was announced.