TPG Telecom and Optus have struck an 11-year regional network-sharing deal. The Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) agreement will see Optus provide TPG with access to its regional radio access network, with the pair sharing spectrum in regional Australia, if the deal passes regulatory approvals. When active, TPG's retail and wholesale customers - which include Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, Lebara and felix customers - will use Optus' 4G and 5G regional network on an equivalent basis to Optus customers. However, both major telcos will still operate their own core networks and continue to operate thei ..read more

 "Enabling not-for-profit organisations to achieve more is a key motivator for our people," says Natasha Reynolds, Head of Partnerships at SOCO a multi-award-winning digital transformation and IT consultancy in Australia.  Ms Reynolds says: "People are at the centre of everything we do. This focus has led SOCO to deliver outstanding IT solutions for our clients across the government, commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Notable projects include volunteer lifecycle management systems and environmental disaster recovery applications."  For SOCO, Ingram Micro and Microsoft's IM ..read more

Telstra has signed a five-year deal with Cognizant as part of the telecommunication company's software engineering and IT capability play, tapping into modern technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). According to a statement from Cognizant, the partnership will see the global systems integrator provide Telstra with modern product engineering practices to improve its customer service and speed to market, as well as enabling more efficient software engineering and IT operations and decommission legacy systems. Additionally, the employee experience is also anticipated to be supporte ..read more

Technology and design consultancy Mantel Group has earned Elite status with Databricks following its work with numerous data and artificial intelligence (AI) projects. According to the consultancy, which has previously been awarded Regional System Integrator Partner of the Year for Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ), it was awarded the rank in recognition of its work with data and AI across financial services, entertainment and the public sector. To date, Mantel has undertaken more than 30 Databricks Data Intelligence Platform implementations at scale. Speaking to ARN, James Hayes, d ..read more

Synnex has hired Thomas Tapsas to its leadership team as its new director of channel sales.  A seasoned figure in the channel, Tapsas comes into the role with more than 25 years of extensive experience in sales, business development, and leadership. According to the distributor, the appointment comes after an extensive search to identify the ideal candidate who embodies profound industry insight and aligns strongly with Synnex's values, business approach, and its strategic goals.  In his new role, Tapsas will spearhead Synnex's commercial and channel sales team, driving the organis ..read more

Regional areas need to step up their game if they're to prepare for the artificial intelligence (AI) wave, with some experts claiming these areas are underprepared compared to their metropolitan comrades, and things need to change if rural locations are going to present themselves as AI powerhouses in their own right. Speaking with ARN, Daniel Sargent, managing director and founder of data centre infrastructure product vendor Treske, strongly believes that regional infrastructure simply isn't up to par compared to metropolitan locations. Sargent previously worked at critical infrastruct ..read more

IBM is set to acquire HashiCorp in a deal worth US$6.4 billion to expand its focus in hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI). The deal consists of IBM paying US$35 for each HashiCorp share with cash on hand but is still subject to approval by shareholders. However, the board of directors of both companies have approved the deal and 43 per cent of HashiCorp's voting power has entered into a agreement to approve the deal. If the deal is approved, the transaction is expected to close by the end of 2024. Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman and CEO, claimed in a statement that HashiCorp has a tra ..read more

Victoria's digital hub in Cremorne has reopened after undergoing a refurbishment that allows it to host new programs and events. Based at 80 Balmain Street, the hub is a fit-for-purpose facility and claims in a statement that it will "drive visibility and commercial success across the tech sector". Prior to the refresh, it previously operated in a "very limited capacity", according to a spokesperson. The hub will now be host to a range of programs and events, which was not possible prior to the refurbishment, with a focus on developing commercially savvy tech talent, real world applications ..read more

HP has launched its range of commercial and consumer "AI PCs" in Australia, providing additional power for artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. The launch includes its HP Elite and Pro PC products, which feature Intel Core Ultra 5 and 7 processors, which in turn feature neural processing units (NPU) - additional processing power dedicated for usage when utilising AI. The devices also feature HP Smart Sense, which is designed to automatically anticipate and adjust to a user's PC usage to "[ensure] the best balance of performance and power". Devices in this range include: HP Elite 1040 Ser ..read more

US-headquartered multinational IT services firm UST has acquired Sydney-based consultancy Strativity Group for its customer experience (CX) and design expertise. Strativity touts itself as a global strategy, experience design and cultural transformation firm and claims it has worked on over 700 projects for brands, creating $3 billion in commercial value. Under UST, Strativity will lead the multinational's CX strategy and design solution offering in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ), tapping into its skillset in strategy development, CX and organisational change management. According to a sta ..read more