Telstra acquires Readify to build networks and services portfolio

Australian telco Telstra has continued efforts to bolster its Network Applications and Services (NAS) business unit through acquiring Readify.

The company has been vocal about its aims for the NAS business unit as it has sought to expand through numerous acquisitions in recent years. Aside from the Readify deal, the company has also incorporated O2 Networks, Bridge Point Communications, Kloud and North Shore Connections, as well as numerous partnerships including with cloud security start-up vArmour.

“This arm of the business (NAS) has been a strong growth area for Telstra, achieving double-digit growth in revenue driven by business momentum in Asia, as well as advances in technology in the cloud computing space,” said a statement on the company website. “We are well equipped to continue to capitalise on this growth and ensure our focus on NAS continues to drive revenue.”

Readify, which currently offers enterprise cloud application solutions as well as Big Data and IoT, will provide an additional platform for Telstra to drive digital transformation for its enterprise customers in domestic and global markets. The offering builds on the January acquisition of Kloud which offers cloud migration services, as well as unified communications solutions and contact centre provider North Shore Connections in 2013, network integration services provider O2 Networks in 2014 and security, networking, and data management provider Bridgepoint, also in 2014.

“Readify will provide application development and data analytics services, nicely complementing Kloud’s existing services,” said Telstra Executive Director Global Enterprise and Services, Michelle Bendschneider. “It will enable Telstra to add incremental value to customers in enterprise cloud applications, API-based customisation and extensions as well as business technology advisory services.”

Back in April, the company announced a business multi-cloud connecting solution, which supports numerous offerings hybrid cloud offerings including Azure, AWS, VMware, and IBM. The one-to-many “gateway” model will enable Australian customers to connect to Microsoft Azure, Office365, AWS, IBM SoftLayer, and VMware vCloud Air, while international customers can only connect to AWS and IBM SoftLayer for the moment.

The cloud and enterprise services market has been a long-ambition of the company, though it did get off to a slow start. Back in 2014, its national rival Optus Business stole a march on Telstra through acquiring Ensyst, winner of Australian Country Partner of the Year at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Awards during the same year, as it looked to grow its own cloud proposition. It would appear Telstra is making up for lost time through an accelerated program of product releases and acquisitions.