Tag: Axiata

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Axiata Group Berhad and Sinar Mas have jointly announced the signing of two Letters of Intent (LOIs) to explore and advance a series of strategic collaborations at a ceremony graced by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, the President of Indonesia, at the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

The first LOI lays a robust foundation for progressing detailed discussions outlining specific projects and initiatives that drive further collaboration around potential synergies in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. 

Meanwhile, the second LOI reaffirms Axiata’s and Sinar Mas’s various commitments set out in the definitive agreements jointly announced on 11 December 2024 to progress the proposed merger of PT XL Axiata Tbk, PT Smartfren Telecom Tbk, and PT Smart Telcom to form PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk, to known as XLSmart in Indonesia.

Leveraging their respective telecommunications ecosystems, Axiata and Sinar Mas aim to explore opportunities to unlock value for stakeholders in several high-growth areas, including advanced 5G solutions, enterprise services, digital infrastructure, and fintech innovations. Ultimately, these potential advancements stand to support digital transformation initiatives across the region.

Under the scope of the first LOI, Axiata and Sinar Mas will jointly conduct detailed market analyses, evaluate competitive landscapes, and identify unmet demand across priority markets. Both companies will assess core competencies within their respective ecosystems to prioritise opportunities and define optimal operating models to effectively capture market potential. 

The parties also intend to facilitate strategic partnerships to incubate new businesses and solutions, ensuring alignment with national and regional digital economy agendas.

Meanwhile, the merger remains subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, as well as customary closing conditions. Assuming all approvals and conditions are met, completion is expected in the first half of 2025. All material updates regarding the merger will be communicated through official channels, including exchange announcements, regulatory disclosures, and respective company websites.

Vivek Sood, group chief executive officer at Axiata Group, said, “These Letters of Intent with Sinar Mas represent a pivotal step in advancing regional collaboration to shape Southeast Asia’s next wave of digital transformation and advance services in high-growth areas. By deepening and reaffirming our ongoing partnership with Sinar Mas, we aim to harness the transformative potential of 5G, enterprise solutions, and digital infrastructure to drive sustainable economic growth and bridge the digital divide across Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond.”

He added, “We deeply appreciate the steadfast support of the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia, whose forward-looking policies on connectivity and digital inclusion have set a strong foundation for such partnerships. By aligning our shared ambitions with national and regional digital economy agendas, we are laying the groundwork for a vibrant and inclusive digital ecosystem that delivers transformative services, empowers businesses, and enriches lives.”

Meanwhile, Franky Oesman Widjaja, chairman of Sinar Mas Telecommunications and Technology, commented: “These two Letters of Intent signed today with Axiata represent an exciting chapter in our shared mission to accelerate Malaysia and Indonesia’s digital transformation. We are confident in our ability to unlock synergies, deliver long-term value for stakeholders, and make a meaningful impact on the region’s digital economy by enhancing connectivity, fostering innovation, and empowering businesses and communities.”

“Sinar Mas is keen to collaborate with Axiata to explore new innovative opportunities while supporting Malaysia and Indonesia’s vision of a thriving and inclusive digital economy. Together, we aim to set a benchmark for regional collaboration, creating a more interconnected and prosperous future.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Dentsu Malaysia has teamed up with Axiata Group Berhad this year’s Merdeka campaign to honour Malaysia’s unsung heroes, whose achievements have quietly placed the nation on the global map.

Running from Merdeka Day (31 August) to Malaysia Day (16 September), the campaign deviated from paying homage to well-recognised national icons and instead spotlighted everyday Malaysians, including a NASA competition winner, an esports champion, a dedicated teacher, a clinical scientist, an international photojournalist, and an international speech competition winner, who may not be usually known to fellow Malaysians for their extraordinary achievements.

Running on all key social and digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube, the campaign surpassed expectations, doubling Through Plays and Engagement, with a reach of over 4.2 million. It generated 3.88 million views on TikTok, 2 million views on YouTube, and 1.2 million views on Meta.

The production, completed in just two days, showcases the dedication of both teams.

Ellison Fernandez, executive creative director at dentsu Malaysia, said, “By focusing on the stories of lesser-known achievements, the campaign showcases how everyday Malaysians push boundaries to inspire others to unite, combining talents to elevate the nation’s reputation on the global stage. These unsung heroes embody Axiata’s commitment to advancing every individual towards becoming catalysts for change.”

Meanwhile, Audrey Chong, CEO at dentsu Malaysia, commented, “As a team with our roots in Malaysia, we resonate deeply with Axiata’s identity with the nation and ambition to sew the fabric of the nation. This campaign was born out of a recognition that people from all walks of life form our nation’s collective identity, no matter how big or small, and while popular national icons are celebrated, we must also elevate individuals who have excelled for Malaysia in their own ways. We are proud to be part of this meaningful campaign with Axiata and are grateful to all involved delivering this in a limited amount of time.”

Boost Bank by Axiata and RHB (Boost Bank) has officially launched its innovative digital banking app, marking a significant milestone in Malaysia’s financial technology landscape. 

In an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC, Diana Boo, chief marketing officer of Boost, shared exciting details about the launch of Boost Bank’s homegrown digital banking app. She also discussed the app’s innovative embedded onboarding journey and outlined Boost Bank’s long-term strategic goals for advancing the digital banking sector in Malaysia.

Diana Boo, Chief Marketing Officer, of Boost

The start of a long digital journey 

Approved by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Boost Bank aims to transform the way Malaysians interact with banking services through its pioneering embedded onboarding journey.

Boost Bank’s launch event was graced by the prime minister, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, and the minister of digital, Yang Berhormat Gobind Singh Deo.

“During the inaugural event, the Prime Minister expressed his confidence that digital banks, like Boost Bank, will drive e-payment transactions and financial literacy for the nation,” Boo recounted. 

For Boo, Boost Bank has distinguished itself as an industry pioneer through its innovative ‘embedded onboarding journey’. This unique feature allows existing Premium Wallet users on the Boost eWallet app to seamlessly open a Boost Bank account digitally, even if they do not already have a bank account. Users simply tap on the ‘Bank’ icon on the Boost eWallet app’s homepage and complete a straightforward eKYC and registration process to open their Boost Bank account.

Additionally,  Boost Bank is also leveraging strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. Recently, Boost Bank announced its partnership with MYDIN to offer preferential daily interest rates of up to 4% p.a. on its promotional Savings Jars, called ‘Groceries Jar’, and RM10 cashback on the Boost eWallet app. 

“In the coming months, we will unveil even more partnership promotions across both East and West Malaysia, including CelcomDigi, Bataras Sdn. Bhd., CKS RETAIL Sdn. Bhd., FARLEY (KCH) Sdn. Bhd., Servay Hypermarket (Sabah) Sdn. Bhd., and Boulevard Hypermarket and Departmental Store Sdn. Bhd,” Boo revealed. 

Embedded banking in daily life 

Boo believes that Boost Bank stands out as a frontrunner in the embedded banking industry due to its seamless integration into Malaysians’ daily routines, such as grocery shopping and paying telco bills.

“In summary, we go to our customers,” Boo emphasised. “Our approach is deeply aligned with our founding mission to serve the underserved segments of society by driving greater financial inclusion and creating greater access to banking solutions for the underbanked and unbanked communities.” 

Prime Minister Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim and the Minister of Digital Yang Berhormat Gobind Singh Deo joins the launch.

Boost Bank’s innovative model is further strengthened by its unique combination of the technology-first mindset of a fintech (Boost) with the trust and stability of a large financial institution (RHB Banking Group). 

“Capitalising on the combined and extensive ecosystems across the Boost-RHB Digital Bank Consortium, Boost Bank is strategically positioned to unleash the true potential of embedded banking in the long term, for which the entire value chain is estimated by industry research to reach $305 billion in APAC within a few years,” Boo explained. 

Boo also pointed to the success of digital banks in broader Asian markets as evidence of the viability of Boost Bank’s model. 

“Sustainable models that leverage ecosystems are most likely to succeed,” she noted.

As the Malaysian digital banking landscape continues to evolve, Boost Bank’s objective remains clear. 

“Our goal is to create a digital banking experience that is accessible, inclusive, and innovative,” Boo asserted. “This is just the beginning of our journey. Boost Bank will progressively expand our digital bank features and solutions to better serve the needs of all Malaysians, such as our much-anticipated Debit Card.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Axiata Group announced that Dato’ Izzaddin Idris will step down from his position as president and group CEO effective May 31, 2022. The board has appointed Dr Hans Wijayasuria, CEO of telecommunications business and group EVP of Axiata, as well as Vivek Sood, group CFO of Axiata, as interim joint acting group CEOs effective June 1, 2022. They will retain their current positions and portfolios. The stepping down of Idris is based on the mutual cessation of his service contract between him and Axiata.

Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, chairman of Axiata, said, “The board thanks Idris for his wisdom, leadership and contributions in steering Axiata over the past two years. He took the helm on January 1, 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 crisis, after serving as deputy group CEO since January 2020. He has been instrumental in shaping Axiata’s strategic response to secure stability and business continuity in the face of daunting and unprecedented challenges across many aspects of our operations.”

Ridzuan adds on the appointment of joint group CEOs, saying, “The board assures all our stakeholders that Axiata has always had a strong culture of succession planning and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and preserving the momentum Axiata has achieved thus far with the Axiata 5.0 Vision. The appointment of Wijayasuria and Sood as joint acting Group CEOs will ensure continuity in this situation.”

Ridzuan said that with the appointment of Wijayasuria and Sood as joint group CEOs, Axiata has two industry stalwarts who are very familiar with Axiata’s businesses and they are both strongly grounded in our culture and deeply committed to the success of our ventures.

According to the company, the board does not expect to make additional structural or senior leadership changes in the near term.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Multinational Malaysian telecommunications company Axiata has recently appointed advertising company dentsu in Malaysia as its creative agency of record, effective by December this year.

The agency was tasked by Axiata in building its brand equity aligned to its strategic purpose of ‘Advancing Asia’, which is the company’s objective of being the best in the region in terms of innovation, connectivity and talent. Furthermore, dentsu will be providing end-to-end communications support for Axiata to strengthen its reputation with key stakeholders across the region.

Axiata’s appointment of dentsu Malaysia comes in retrospect of the need to elevate its growth as a trusted regional brand, its brand plans will require a targeted mix of campaigns focused on technology and innovation thought leadership, employer branding, good governance, credibility, sustainability, diversity, nation-building, and digital inclusion.

Kunal Roy, CEO of dentsu Creative, said, “We feel deeply honored and privileged to partner with a client that is so alike in our values and our purpose; we look forward to bringing alive Axiata’s purpose of ‘Advancing Asia’ with meaningful innovation and experiences. As Axiata continues to champion progress across Asia, dentsu is committed to partnering with Axiata using creativity as a force for lasting good everywhere, in every way.”

Meanwhile, Dato’ Izzaddin Idris, president and Group CEO at Axiata, commented, “As one of the largest diversified telco groups serving emerging markets in Asia, Axiata is well-positioned and anchored to support digital inclusion and progress in a time when governments, businesses, and societies turn to technology and digital innovation to drive recovery and growth. We look forward to dentsu’s best work to support our regional momentum and aspirations as The Next Generation Digital Champion by 2024.”

For Kien Eng Tan, CEO of dentsu Malaysia, they are thrilled to win Axiata’s mandate, which is not only a recognition of their creative excellence but a demonstration of how the agency can deliver impactful ideas, through a strong collaboration with their client.

“We look forward to leveraging our inclusive Consumer Vision 2030 to unlock opportunities for growth through integrated solutions that are real-time, data-driven and tech-enabled. I am proud of our team, the work we do is our people’s mission and pride — each employee at dentsu is fearless in embracing the invitation to the never before,” Tan concluded.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Axiata Enterprise, the business-to-business (B2B) arm of Malaysia-based telecommunications group Axiata, has announced a partnership with Google Cloud in order to help accelerate digital adoption across companies and small-medium businesses (SMBs) across Asia.

The implementation will come in the form of offering Google Workspace as part of their integrated ICT portfolio and solution bundles to small and medium businesses (SMBs). Telecoms across Axiata’s group will spearhead the implementation, with Dialog in Sri Lanka leading the initiative, and with implementation scheduled for Q2 this year.

This will be followed by Celcom in Malaysia, XL in Indonesia, Robi in Bangladesh, Ncell in Nepal, and Smart in Cambodia by the second half of the year.

Axiata’s digital telcos will also continue to leverage Google Cloud’s core compute, storage, and networking capabilities to modernize their infrastructure and drive their digital transformation initiatives. 

Said initiative comes in retrospect to the fact that Asia is home to over one million SMBs all looking for the best possible way to tap the immense opportunities in some of the world’s fastest growing Internet economies. Axiata’s controlling interests in six mobile operators cover over 157 million mobile subscribers across its footprint. 

“Axiata and Google Cloud have a shared vision of helping businesses digitize and grow as they build greater resilience for the long haul. With nations increasingly stepping up on digitalization for economic recovery and growth, we stand at a critical juncture to support businesses, especially small and medium players in their efforts to adjust and adapt to new digital norms for survival,” said Gopi Kurup, CEO at Axiata Enterprise.

He also added that the power of Google Cloud’s advanced technologies combined with Axiata’s market intelligence enables companies to access advanced tools to boost their collaboration and productivity and generate data-based insights to strengthen their evolving customer engagement strategies.

Celcom, which is under the Axiata Group, is leveraging Google Cloud’s infrastructure and solutions as well to run its payment gateway and advance its modern digital customer journey. The Malaysian telco also has plans to use Google Cloud’s AI tools to build personalization and recommendation models to further enhance customer experience. 

Ruma Balasubramanian, managing director of Google Cloud in Southeast Asia, said, “To resource-strapped SMBs, cloud technology is a game-changer that enables them to compete with larger players in the market. We’re thrilled to partner with Axiata to accelerate the digital transformation of millions of companies in the region, and help them solve their complex business and technology challenges.”