PERTH, Australia -- Aggregating voice and data services under a new common-use arrangement with six preferred vendors is projected to save government agencies in Western Australia up to A$14.6 million ($10.7 million U.S.) annually, according to a state official.

Western Australia government agencies spent A$79 million on voice and data services last year.

In a presentation to government officials here, John Crowe, director of information technology and telecommunications for the state's Department of Treasury and Finance, said that the list of preferred voice and data service providers will eliminate the need for contract negotiations by individual agencies and should keep prices down. The program began on March 1.

Crowe said that the preferred voice providers are Bright Telecommunications in Perth; Macquarie Telecom Pty. in Sydney; Optus Networks, a North Ryde-based unit of Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.; and Telstra Corp. in Melbourne. Amcom Telecommunications Ltd. and Swiftel Communications, both in Perth, are the preferred data services providers.

-- Rodney Gedda, Computerworld Today (Australia)