Having just been made available for less than 18 months, Boost the digital ewallet application by Axiata Group, grew its user base from zero to 3.7 million and merchant list of more than 66,000 touch points within that period. A phenomenal feat for a start-up but if that is not impressive enough, the cashless service provider has just inked an agreement to expand its user base to Singapore and Thailand.

At the Mobile World Congress, the team from Axiata Digital converged and met up with Singtel to sign a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in the areas of mobile financial and digital services to support the regions efforts to grow the digital economy.

The agreement will allow Boost Malaysia to join VIA, the Singtel Group’s cross-border mobile payment alliance, that will enable the provider access to Singapore and Thailand and VIA into Malaysia. Singtel Dash in Singapore and AIS GLOBAL Pay users will be able to use their app in Malaysia while Boost users can use the app at VIA’s more than 1.6 million merchant partners.

Mobile wallet interoperability has been the agenda for both parties, Boost under the Axiata ambit can tap into the groups operation network in the region. VIA was launched by the Singtel Group in October 2018, with partners AIS, Singtel’s regional associate, and Kasikornbank, Thailand’s digital bank. The Group plans to progressively expand this alliance to include other regional associates Airtel in India, Globe in the Philippines, Telkomsel in Indonesia, working within each country’s regulations, as well as non-telcos.