Australian telecommunications operator Telstra is extending its cloud capabilities worldwide using Cisco’s global cloud platform as the base of its own cloud services platform.

The cloud platform will allow Telstra cloud customers to link up with other partner Cisco platforms around the world.

Telstra said it is building a cloud infrastructure that provisions cloud and network services in real-time which it says will provide greater speed, security and performance without having to build its own global footprint.

Telstra also revealed plans to invest in the Cisco Evolved Services Platform for its networking infrastructure which it said will enable seamless and secure delivery of cloud applications to customers.

Telstra Global Enterprise & Services executive director of cloud Erez Yarkoni said the company’s customers are now open to a choice of cloud infrastructure.

“The Cisco relationship allows us to offer deeper and broader service capabilities to help our customers manage their critical applications, making the transition to the cloud simpler and more cost effective,” Yarkoni said.

Telstra said it expects its new cloud offerings to be available in Australia by the end of 2014.