Singapore Telecommunications is reported to have signed a partnership to enable the use of its cross-border mobile wallet platform in Japan, enabling the growth of its digital payments initiative.

Singapore Telecommunications partnership with Netstars, a mobile payment technology company, will allow travelers to use their home mobile wallets on Singtel’s network VIA to pay digitally in Japan. Through VIA, customers can pay instantly in their local currency, transact conveniently and securely across the networks of all wallet members in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The Singtel Group launched VIA in October 2018 to create a region-wide payment network that will enable consumers to securely and conveniently pay with their mobile wallets when they travel in the Asia Pacific Region. The company will expand the mobile wallet alliance to India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Singtel extents carrier services in areas such as digital marketing, cybersecurity, mobile payments, and video streaming.

“With scale, we will over time, be able to convert payments into multiple uses,” said Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel’s International Group, adding the company could look to provide more financial services.

Singtel’s Thai associate Info Service Pcl is part of VIA network, and it has signed an agreement with the digital services of Malaysia’s Axiata Group Berhad.
The telecom operator has a mobile customer base of over 675 million.