Telstra launches Industrial Automation capability to help transform Australian industries

Telstra has launched a new end-to-end Industrial Automation capability to help transform some of Australia’s biggest industries - making them smarter, safer, cleaner, more productive and more secure.

The comprehensive suite of services combines Telstra Purple’s recent industrial solutions acquisitions Aqura Technologies and Alliance Automation, joint venture with data science and AI leader Quantium, and Telstra’s high-quality networks, including 5G, Fibre and IoT, to help businesses simplify the complexities of Industry 4.0.

Telstra Enterprise Group Executive David Burns said Australia’s heavy industries, including mining, construction, supply chain and manufacturing, face complex challenges. 

“Our ambition is to work hand-in-hand with businesses to help solve their biggest problems – complex issues like siloed IT and OT systems, heightened cyber security risks, environmental management, technical skills shortages, and managing legacy systems,” Mr Burns said. 

“When people think of Telstra, they often think about networks. But we’re so much more than that now. Over the past few years we’ve built a holistic ecosystem of highly specialised Industrial Automation capabilities. This includes industrial networks and IoT through Aqura, automation engineering, IT/OT integration and OT cybersecurity through Alliance Automation, and data and AI through our Quantium joint venture – not to mention the technology and expertise from Telstra Purple and our partners.” 

“This means we can now offer an end-to-end service to help businesses maximise the potential of Industry 4.0, and tackle the unique challenges and opportunities that each customer faces as they embrace it. We want to help make smart industry, simple.”

Telstra’s Industrial Automation capability offers holistic solutions, spanning private networks, internet of things (IoT), IT/OT convergence, cybersecurity, analytics and AI, cloud and edge, and professional and managed services. 

Mr Burns said the combination of Telstra’s expertise and technology had the potential to make a big difference for Australia’s heavy industries, particularly for their workers.

“One of the big opportunities we see is in increasing the safety of workers and automation in our heavy industries. For example, we’ve been working with Newcrest and Ericsson to trial underground private 4G and 5G networks at their Cadia gold mine – one of the largest gold operations in Australia - on the back of the fully operational above-ground 4G network.”

“This can enable high-bandwidth, low-latency communications essential for the next generation of mining automation, including new networks of sensors monitoring everything from air quality to structural movement, and ultimately protecting Newcrest’s biggest asset – its people,” Mr Burns said.

“With the combination of deep-domain expertise, an extensive ecosystem of specialised partners and the latest technology and quality networks, we're excited to deepen our partnerships with our heavy industries to unlock value, grow their business and create better outcomes for people and the environment,” Mr Burns said.

For more information on Telstra’s Industrial Automation capabilities, visit telstra.com.au/industrial-automation.