Singtel inks partnership with Axiata Digital to grow cross-border payments

Singtel and Malaysian internet company Axiata Digital have partnered in the areas of mobile financial and digital services to support ASEAN’s efforts to grow the digital economy. Both parties plan to jointly promote and drive cross-border payments to grow their respective user bases and merchant networks, and explore collaboration around rewards and loyalty programmes.The collaboration will see Axiata Digital’s mobile wallet, Boost Malaysia, joining Singtel's cross-border mobile payment alliance, VIA, and grow its footprint beyond Singapore and Thailand to Malaysia. As part of the partnership, Boost Malaysia’s customers will be able to use their mobile wallet at VIA’s merchant partners in Singapore and Thailand. Boost Malaysia will add over 66,000 merchant points to the alliance’s network, expanding the reach of the payment service for millions of Singtel Dash and AIS GLOBAL Pay users, who are on the VIA platform.VIA was launched by Singtel in October 2018 in partnership with regional associate AIS and Thailand's digital bank Kasikornbank, to create a region-wide payment network that will enable consumers to pay with their mobile wallets when they travel in Asia Pacific.In addition to the collaboration, Singtel also partnered with Apigate, Axiata Digital’s new-breed Application Programming Interface platform. The move looks to enable cross-sharing of product portfolios, and allow digital content from over 300 gaming and entertainment service providers to be offered to consumers who can securely and conveniently pay with direct carrier billing and mobile wallets.The partnership with Apigate will build an ecosystem of digital services with a focus on areas such as mobile financial services and content including videos and gaming to engage a combined mobile customer base of more than one billion across Asia.Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel’s International group, said that the partnership with Axiata Digital adds further momentum to Singtel’s goal to empower consumers to transact "seamlessly" across borders. He added that the company aims to deliver more entertainment choices and experiences through the ecosystem of digital services.“This shows the tremendous potential for us to grow cross-border mobile payments even beyond the countries where Singtel’s regional associates operate. VIA’s continued expansion will provide consumers with the ease and convenience of using one mobile wallet to pay across multiple regional markets as they travel. We look forward to more partners joining VIA," Lang said.Mohd Khairil Abdullah, CEO of Axiata Digital, said that mobile wallet interoperability has been high on the telco's priority list. He added that Boost’s merchant base is growing at a strong pace, and the company aims to drive revenue growth for its merchant partners by having Singtel's e-wallet users visit the outlets."Vice versa, Boost users will also enjoy the same convenience when visiting Singapore, Thailand and in future other countries across the region," he added.(Read more: Singtel bolsters gaming and e-sports in Asia with new partnership)