Standard Bank has awarded telecoms firm Telstra a contract to manage its voice and data traffic around the world.

Telstra Europe will manage the South African investment bank's computer networks using multi-protocol label switching technology.

The bank expects the reduce operational costs by deploying the wide area network and hopes to improve network security.

Standard Bank has decided to switch to the new network as it offers better service availability, needed to ensure that its trading platforms and settlement systems remain available at all times.

'Trust was the key consideration when choosing to move the bank’s voice and data services to a fully managed IP-based service,' said Gary Diable, technical infrastructure manager at Standard Bank.

'The decision to adopt the MPLS solution, which provides us with cutting edge industry-technology backed up with a highly professional service, is a natural progression of our excellent working relationship.'

The converged network will also provide internet telephony technology and will be used at its UK office.

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