Infosys and Telstra International have announced an expanded collaboration aimed at enhancing Telstra’s technology leadership, driving operational efficiency, and accelerating AI adoption. Under this extended agreement, Infosys will become the strategic partner for Telstra International, the global division of Australia’s top telecom company, to support its Connected Future 30 strategy.
Telstra’s “Connected Future 30” is a five-year strategy unveiled in May 2025, aimed at transforming the company from a traditional telco into a customer-centric, digitally advanced technology business by 2030. It marks a shift from earlier restructuring programs like T22 and T25, moving toward growth, innovation, and deeper value creation. At its core, the strategy emphasizes positioning Telstra’s network as a differentiated product.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all connectivity, Telstra will enable customers — especially businesses and developers — to tailor and buy specific attributes such as latency, speed, security, and reliability via APIs, with pricing aligned to the level of service and experience delivered. This shift supports Telstra’s goal to make most of its connectivity revenue dependent on measurable network performance, tracked through a new Network Experience Index.
Customer experience is another cornerstone of the strategy. Telstra plans to use AI to personalize and proactively manage interactions, aiming to improve customer satisfaction and become one of Australia’s top 10 most loved brands.
The company is targeting annual capital expenditure of AU$3.2 to AU$3.4 billion, with an additional AU$500–800 million in growth investments over four years. Telstra expects this strategy to generate AU$20 billion in excess capital by 2030, which will be returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
The strategy also includes major investments in digital infrastructure through its InfraCo and Amplitel divisions, including a 14,000 km ultra-low-latency intercity fibre network to support AI, cloud services, and future 6G networks. The Sydney–Canberra segment of the fibre project went live in June 2025. At the same time, Telstra continues expanding its 5G network, with more than 91 percent population coverage and over 250,000 km of fibre deployed.
Connected Future 30 is underpinned by strong enablers: building a high-performance, inclusive workforce; scaling automation and AI across network operations; pursuing climate goals aligned with a 1.5°C pathway; and maintaining financial discipline. Return on invested capital (ROIC) is targeted to reach at least 10 percent by FY30.
Telstra International’s focus will be on modernizing core systems using Infosys’ AI-first digital approach. This transformation is expected to streamline operations, unlock new go-to-market opportunities, and improve customer experiences globally. The deal highlights Telstra’s ongoing transition into a software-centric, AI-driven connectivity provider, emphasizing innovation and software engineering excellence.
Telstra International CEO Roary Stasko emphasized that the company is enhancing its core connectivity and accelerating transformation to deliver smarter, more responsive services and superior customer experiences through its collaboration with Infosys.
Infosys EVP Raja Shah highlighted the importance of agility and efficiency in telecom, stating that Infosys will support Telstra’s transformation with advanced solutions aimed at boosting innovation and operational resilience.
This alliance also reinforces Telstra International’s ambitions to strengthen its presence across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, where it already operates a vast network spanning over 400,000 km of undersea cables and licenses in key regions.
TelecomLead.com News Desk