Nextgen Networks, Sliced Tech and Verizon Australia are among the local telcos that have made it onto the Federal Government’s new six-member Telecommunications Services panel. They join Macquarie Telecom, Telstra, and TPG from the previous panel, whose role was ended by the Government earlier this year.

The head agreements signed with the telcos will be in place until November 30 2020. There are options for up to three one-year extensions.

The hope is that the new panel will help government departments minimise the costs of a range of telco services, including Internet access.

Surprisingly to some, Optus and Fujitsu, both of which were on the previous panel, have missed out on selection for this one. However, “the Government is continuing negotiations with other providers to be added to the panel,” said a statement issued by Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.