Under the agreement, Telstra would be the junior partner, holding a 40% stake in the JV, with Accenture holding the remaining 60%.

The JV would comprise specialists from Telstra and Accenture’s Data & AI teams with the aim of modernising Telstra's data and AI platforms and creating a world-class data and AI ecosystem.

A key focus of the JV would be to reinvent business processes through new capabilities like agentic AI, which can create autonomous AI agents capable of decision making, dynamic problem-solving, learning, and improving through every interaction.

The JV would also build specialised AI tools to support teams to help build data and AI fluency across Telstra’s workforce, and fast-tracking the development of future-critical skills.

Under the proposed JV, subject to consultation with Telstra’s employees and unions, Telstra’s core Data & AI workforce, based in Australia and India, would receive an offer to join the JV.

At the end of the seven-year term, JV employees would be offered a role at Telstra.

According to Telstra, the JV would benefit from Accenture’s recently announced US$3 billion AI investment over three years in assets, industry solutions, ventures, acquisitions, talent and ecosystem partnerships, with access to the latest innovation in AI technologies and AI teams in Silicon Valley.

Telstra CEO Vicki Brady said the JV would leverage Accenture’s global expertise to scale AI responsibly and at pace, which would help Telstra deliver seamless connectivity and better experiences for customers.

“We’ve made strong progress on our AI goals and already have hundreds of value-driving AI use-cases across the business," Brady said.

“We will get there much faster and more efficiently by collaborating in an ecosystem of likeminded global leaders, leveraging each other's strengths and accelerating innovation.

"Our strategic partnership with Microsoft and our joint venture with Quantium have been critical enablers in our AI journey so far, and this joint venture with Accenture will propel us into the next phase of our AI evolution.”

Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO, Accenture, said leading companies across the world are embracing agentic AI and generative AI to reinvent themselves using the technology and new ways of working to drive productivity and growth.

“We are proud of our long-standing collaboration with a visionary leader like Telstra, and committed to accelerating its bold AI fuelled business strategy, which will set new standards for the telecom industry,” Sweet said.

“We are also excited about combining our experience, talent and capabilities with Telstra’s to drive innovation and value for Telstra’s customers, people, and shareholders today and in the future.”

Telstra said it would consolidate vendor support from 18 data and AI providers and partners down to two JVs - Quantium Telstra and the proposed joint venture with Accenture.

It follows Telstra’s Software Engineering & IT division consolidating its partners last year, which saw it move from more than 400 vendors to two strategic partners, which the telco said streamlined operations, reduced complexity and delivered efficiencies.