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Spirit Technology Solutions vs Telstra Purple: Which MSP is Better? | The MSP Playbook

Article 2026-06-11

Spirit Technology Solutions vs Telstra Purple

A detailed comparison of two major Australian Managed Service Providers.

Feature Spirit Technology Solutions Telstra Purple
Overall Score3.13.5
TypePublic Mid-TierTelco / Enterprise
Employees200-4005000-10000
Founded20122017
HeadquartersSydney, NSWSydney, NSW
RevenuePrivatePrivate
Salary Range$65,000 - $140,000$80,000 - $170,000
SpecialtiesCybersecurity, Managed Services, Telecommunications, CloudManaged Infrastructure, Cloud Services, Cybersecurity, Consulting
CertificationsMicrosoft Partner, Fortinet Partner, SonicWall PartnerMicrosoft Partner, AWS Partner, Cisco Partner, ServiceNow Partner
Green FlagsGrowing rapidly
Good technology focus
Some teams have genuine depth
Telstra brand provides stability and scale
ASX-listed benefits structure
Strong telecommunications backbone
Good vendor partnerships
Red FlagsBelow-market salaries
Rapid growth creates culture inconsistency
Limited career progression
550 roles cut in July 2025 — largest restructure in years
Telco culture dominates — IT services are secondary
Contractor dependency creates inconsistency
Bureaucratic decision-making slows everything down
Legacy telco culture persists in some divisions
Worker ProsGrowth opportunities
Technology focus
Some good teams
Telstra compensation structure is genuinely good
ASX-listed stability — won't be sold or acquired
Access to Telstra's network and enterprise relationships
Brand recognition opens doors
Worker ConsBelow-market salaries
Culture inconsistency
Limited progression
550 roles cut in 2025 — 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 Public Mid-Tier and Telco / Enterprise have strengths and weaknesses. Your choice depends on your priorities — 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.