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Sopra Steria vs Telstra Purple: Which MSP is Better? | The MSP Playbook

Article 2026-07-27

Sopra Steria vs Telstra Purple

A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.

Feature Sopra Steria Telstra Purple
Overall Score3.73.5
TypeEuropean IT Consulting / ServicesTelco / Enterprise
Employees550005000-10000
Founded2014 (merger of Sopra Group and Steria)2017
HeadquartersParis, FranceSydney, NSW
Revenue$5.8BPrivate
Salary Range$40,000 - $120,000$80,000 - $170,000
SpecialtiesConsulting, Managed Services, Cloud, Digital Transformation, Public Sector IT, Enterprise ApplicationsManaged Infrastructure, Cloud Services, Cybersecurity, Consulting
CertificationsMicrosoft Partner, AWS Partner, SAP Partner, Oracle Partner, ISO 27001Microsoft Partner, AWS Partner, Cisco Partner, ServiceNow Partner
Green FlagsStrong French and European market presence with deep public sector expertise
Successful digital and cloud transformation journey from legacy IT services
Good work-life balance culture by consulting industry standards
Employee share ownership program creates engagement
Strong design and UX consulting capabilities (via Sopra Steria Digital)
Telstra brand provides stability and scale
ASX-listed benefits structure
Strong telecommunications backbone
Good vendor partnerships
Red FlagsHeavy French market concentration β€” 60%+ revenue from France alone
Below-market compensation for top-tier consulting talent
French language essential for career progression β€” limits non-French talent
Public sector dependency creates political and budget cycle risks
Integration challenges from multiple acquired entities
550 roles cut in July 2025 Ò€” largest restructure in years
Telco culture dominates Ò€” IT services are secondary
Contractor dependency creates inconsistency
Bureaucratic decision-making slows everything down
Legacy telco culture persists in some divisions
Worker ProsStrong European market position and brand
Good work-life balance by consulting standards
Employee share ownership creates alignment
Public sector expertise provides stability
Digital and cloud transformation capabilities are genuine
Telstra compensation structure is genuinely good
ASX-listed stability Ò€” won't be sold or acquired
Access to Telstra's network and enterprise relationships
Brand recognition opens doors
Worker ConsFrance-heavy revenue creates geographic concentration risk
Below-market compensation for top-tier consulting talent
French language requirement limits international talent
Public sector dependency creates budget risk cycles
550 roles cut in 2025 Ò€” even Telstra isn't immune
IT services are secondary to the telco business
Bureaucratic culture slows innovation
Contractor dependency creates quality inconsistency
Career progression limited unless you're in the telco side

Which MSP Should You Choose?

Both European IT Consulting / Services and Telco / Enterprise have strengths and weaknesses. Your choice depends on your priorities β€” whether that's career growth, salary, work-life balance, or technical exposure.

Use the side-by-side comparison tool for a deeper look, or check out individual profiles for detailed employee reviews.