Telstra adds AWS to cloud portfolio

Telstra has announced a new partnership with Amazon Web Services, adding the vendor to its stable of cloud providers that already includes Cisco, VMware and IBM.

“We are very excited to expand our relationship with Telstra in delivering an integrated AWS platform experience to customers of all sizes," said AWS ANZ head of channels and alliances Stefan Jansen.

Telstra already provides its in-house cloud, as well as infrastructure-as-a-service from Cisco, VMware and IBM SoftLayer. Microsoft Azure and AWS were offered as direct connections.

Last year CRN reported that Telstra was deliberately engaging with multiple cloud providers to cater for every possible customer situation. The telco's global products and solutions executive director Philip Jones reiterated this strategy this morning, saying the new AWS partnership and the new multi-connect product Cloud Gateway would help customers "reside in fit-for-purpose cloud architectures".

“With more global cloud options available than ever before, our customers want choice, control and confidence," he said.

Paul Black, solutions architect at Telstra partner Resolution Technology, told CRN that his company was invited to the Queensland launch of the AWS deal - but channel relationships with cloud vendors were complex.

"For partner enablement for any cloud platform, we work directly with the cloud vendors on training and sales enablement. Telstra do offer some cloud based enablement but it is really sales-orientated and not technical," he said.

Telstra business solution sales executive director Brendan Donohoe told CRN last year that vCloud Air would suit virtualised environments, Cisco for "web-scale" applications, and IBM SoftLayer for situations that required "bare metal" servers.

Jansen said the addition of AWS to the Telstra portfolio would provide "unprecedented agility" for the solution provider's customers.

Telstra offers the different cloud services both directly and through the channel, with many partners having undergone the same training as in-house staff. Resolution Technology's Black said the AWS deal would suit customers that specifically seek Amazon and those looking for "web-scale".

Earlier this month, Telstra - as a solutions provider - was admitted as a CRN MVP for the second consecutive year as a recognition of its maintenance of top-level vendor relationships.