SINGAPORE, 9 December 2015 – The Singtel Group today inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GrabTaxi to promote the use of the Group’s mobile wallet services on GrabTaxi’s app to mobile consumers in the region. Through a group-wide Open Platform, mobile consumers of AIS, Globe and Telkomsel will be able to book vehicles using the GrabTaxi app, and pay for rides using their personal mobile wallets. This partnership will provide a seamless and convenient experience for users, who may prefer not to pay with cash or credit cards.

Mr Mark Chong, CEO International of Singtel, said, “Telco billing relationships are a key enabler in developing markets, where less than 10% of the population own credit cards or bank accounts. Through our Open Platform, online retailers and service providers such as GrabTaxi can easily connect to the payment platforms of all members of the Singtel Group. The collaboration will enable more mobile customers to enjoy cashless payments through their smart phones.”

Mr Anthony Tan, CEO and co-founder of GrabTaxi, said, “People in Southeast Asia are hyperconnected on mobile, and it’s our goal to provide another payment option for passengers via a channel they are familiar with. GrabTaxi passengers will soon have the option to streamline their payments, including transport expenses, to one mobile wallet and reduce reliance on carrying cash. Our partnership with the Singtel Group also enables us to reward our drivers with better value mobile plans and provide access to more consumers. This is part of our ongoing long-term investment into our app and technology, to build more functionalities to improve the user experience for both our drivers and passengers.”

As part of the MOU, GrabTaxi drivers will be encouraged to use their mobile wallets to accept payments. GrabTaxi drivers will be offeredcustomised data-centric mobile plans tailored in anticipation of their higher data usage needs.

The Open Platform integration to GrabTaxi’s app is expected to be ready by mid-2016. Meanwhile, both GrabTaxi and Singtel Group are working to optimise the user experience of the Group’s mobile wallet services with the GrabTaxi app.

About Singtel

Singtel is Asia’s leading communications and ICT solutions group, providing a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses. For consumers, Singtel delivers a complete and integrated suite of services, including mobile, broadband and TV. For businesses, Singtel offers a complementary array of workforce mobility solutions, data hosting, cloud, network infrastructure, analytics and cyber-security capabilities. The Group has presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 575 million mobile customers in 25 countries. Its infrastructure and technology services for businesses spans 21 countries, with more than 200 direct points of presence in 160 cities.

Singtel is a strategic investor in the region’s most successful mobile operations. It fully owns Optus in Australia. Singtel also has a 23% stake in Thailand’s Advanced Info Service (AIS). It has a 32% effective interest in Airtel, India’s largest GSM operator, which has significant presence in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Africa. Singtel has a 47% stake in Globe Telecom in the Philippines and a 35% stake in Indonesia’s largest mobile operator, Telkomsel. For more information, visit www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au.

About GrabTaxi

GrabTaxi is a leading transportation platform with a comprehensive suite of on-demand services across Southeast Asia. GrabTaxi began as a taxi-hailing app in 2012, but has extended its product platform to include private car services (GrabCar), motorcycle taxis (GrabBike), carpooling (GrabHitch) and deliveries (GrabExpress). GrabTaxi is focused on pioneering new commuting alternatives and for drivers and passengers with an emphasis on speed, safety and reliability. The Company currently offers services in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand through its mobile app platform, which has been downloaded 10 million times. Passengers can download the app to book rides on their smartphones and tablets (iOS: http://bit.ly/grabtaxi-iOS and Android: http://bit.ly/grabtaxi-Android). For more information, please visit: www.grabtaxi.com.