Baltimore Technologies has won a significant contract with telecommunications giant, Telstra, to secure Australia's first government-to-government and business-to-government e-commerce system.

The agreement marks Telstra's first move into the commercial certificate authority market, using Baltimore's certificate management system and consulting services. It may pave the way for other telecommunications providers to begin offering electronic security products as part of their service offering.

Telstra will now establish an advanced public key infrastructure (PKI) system for government agencies and businesses requiring government services online.

Baltimore will host and operate the Telstra infrastructure via Baltimore Certificates Australia.

According to Mr John Palfreyman, managing director of Baltimore Technologies Asia Pacific: "In adopting Baltimore's e-security solutions, Telstra is providing an important new service that will encourage more online interaction within government as well as between government agencies and the Australian business community. This is an important development and Baltimore is proud to be playing a key role to facilitate this."

Separately, Baltimore has transferred its entire Dublin-based staff from the International Financial Services Centre to new headquarters on Parkgate Street.

The new facility will have three phases of development, which, on completion, will have the capacity to accommodate 600 people. Baltimore currently employs 160 people in Ireland.

This week Baltimore chief executive, Mr Fran Rooney, said the move to larger premises underscored Baltimore's commitment to Ireland.