Singtel has demonstrated its cross-border mobile payments service initiative to connect mobile wallets across borders to Asean leaders ahead of the first-phase commercial launch between Singtel and regional associate AIS in Thailand in mid-2018.
The 10 ASEAN heads of state had a chance to experience how this payment service would work.
In a first for the region, the Singtel Group recently announced it would connect different telco wallets across markets to offer seamless cross-border payments at physical merchants. This will empower the Group's more than 600 million mobile customers to securely and conveniently pay with their mobile wallets when they travel in Asia Pacific, helping small merchants expand their reach to millions more in the process.
The Group plans to progressively expand this service to other regional associates including Airtel in India, Globe in the Philippines, Telkomsel in Indonesia, and wholly-owned subsidiary Optus in Australia, working within the regulatory frameworks of the respective countries.
Other mobile payment apps and Singtel’s Bridge Alliance partners can potentially plug into the platform and gain ready access to the Group’s merchant and customer bases throughout the region.
Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel International Group
With the fragmented payments scene in Asia today, interoperability has never been more crucial. We are pleased to support ASEAN’s vision of a more connected community and a single digital market with our cross-border interoperable mobile payment initiative.
