Telecommunication giant, Singtel has some good news to share. The Singaporean corporation has just made another partnership with Japanese company Netstars. It marks Singtel expansion to Japan.
The partnership allows Singtel’s VIA mobile payment alliance available in Japan. Now, Thailand and Singapore payment platforms are available in Netstars’ StarPay terminal. However, terminals are limited to some stores at Narita and Haneda Airport, Japan.
But it is a good sign on the future digital economies of Japan and Southeast Asian Countries. The services would not stop here, instead both companies will make effort on developing a list of compatible services later.
Narita and Haneda Airports are also just a gate of this collaboration. The VIA mobile payment will eventually be available in Tokyo. As well as other big cities that play a big part in Japanese tourism industry such as Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido.
Although it does not seem so, the mobile payment in Japan is still low. The country still relies heavily on cash pay. Worse, recent hacking attack on Seven-Eleven payment service put the industry far backwards.
Beyond expansion, Singtel offers free insurance cover in home country
In Singapore itself, Singtel has just announced that it now has a free insurance cover for migrant workers in the country. This is the company’s first step into insurance market.
The migrant workers can sign up for the insurance if they buy a $2 prepaid data plan, or a $20 prepaid top-up, or send $100 through Dash service. They will have a 30-day personal insurance plan under NTUC Income.
The application and claim process are digital, making it easier for even non-savvy migrant workers. Those who spent $2 for a month data plan can claim up to $5,000 in case of permanent disability or accidental death. Or $3,000 if they lost their job after more than four days of hospitalisation.