AUS: Asia Pacific hub for voice and data networks

Asia Pacific hub for voice and data networks opens in Sydney

Senator the Hon Richard Alston

Minister for Communications, the Information

Economy and the Arts The Hon John Fahey MP

Minister for Finance and Administration

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

The Commonwealth Government today welcomed the opening of Lucent's Asia Pacific NetCare Service Centre in North Ryde.

Lucent chose Sydney over Hong Kong, Singapore and Melbourne as the Asia Pacific hub location for the centre because of the availability of highly skilled technicians, superior infrastructure and the stable economic and political environment in Australia.

The NetCare Centre is the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific and is one of only three NetCare facilities worldwide.

The NetCare Centre assists corporations throughout the region in designing and managing their voice and data networks. The new $15 million purpose-built facility will act as the hub for all of Lucent's customers throughout the Asia Pacific.

To facilitate this investment in Australia, the Government approved a variation to Lucent's industry development commitment previously announced for the Australian Taxation Office outsourcing contract.

This initiative will now deliver a better industry development outcome, particularly in terms of investment, employment and the development of technical skills, without affecting the ATO contract's overall service charge.

The centre also offers enormous potential for significant export earnings as Lucent increases its presence in the Asia Pacific region.

Lucent Technologies is one of the world's leading global communication companies.

11 August 1999

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