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Vodafone, 2degrees and Telecom subsidiary Gen-i have all been added as official mobile voice and data service suppliers in the Ministry of Economic Development’s All-of-Government procurement programme.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says the deal will save the government around $60 million over the next five years, contributing to an estimated $350 million in total savings since the procurement programme was introduced.

“We are continuing to show the substantial negotiating power of government when procuring for all-of-government services,” Joyce says in a statement.

“Mobile voice and data services are a significant cost for government so these new contacts are a great result.”

Vodafone director of sales Grant Hopkins agrees that the convergence of voice and data services provides an opportunity to create cost savings.

“We’re delighted the government is looking for new ways to engage with New Zealanders while seeking to become more efficient in the delivery of these services,” Hopkins says.

For Gen-i, the deal replaces an existing agreement that had been in place since 2005.

The company is also on the Laptop and Desktop procurement panel to distribute Lenovo computers, Philips monitors, and Apple products, and has an agreement with the Ministry of Education to lease laptops to primary and secondary schools through Telecom Rentals.

Greg Mikkelsen, GM enterprise clients for Gen-i, says the deal recognises Gen-i’s history working with government customers.

“We have longstanding relationships with many government organisations,” Mikkelsen says, “and are pleased that more agencies are now able to leverage our mobility solutions to allow their people to connect and collaborate wherever they are, with remote access to information and business applications in a secure and effective way.”

The agreement covers the next three years, with an option to extend for an additional two years.