News
News Categories

Singtel Dash is now usable in Thailand and is Asia's first cross-border mobile payment option

By Vijay Anand - on 6 Oct 2018, 7:04pm

Go cashless in Chatuchak market and 1.6 million merchants across Thailand with Singtel Dash

Note: This article was first published on 2nd October 2018.

Now you can shop and dine in Thailand - the cashless way with Singtel Dash. (Image source: Singtel.)

That's right, you can now go the cashless route when visiting Thailand with Singtel Dash!

Whether you're buying denim wear at Bangkok's popular JJ Mall, buying your favorite local dishes at Chatuchak weekend market, souvenir shopping at CentralWorld Bangkok or any of the other 1.6 million merchants across Thailand, get ready to enjoy more convenience in your next business trip or family vacation.


How is this cross-border mobile payment made possible?

The Singtel Group today launched VIA, its cross-border mobile payment alliance, with its regional associate AIS and Kasikornbank, Thailand’s largest digital bank. Singtel, AIS will now offer QR code-based mobile payments through mobile wallets, Singtel Dash, AIS GLOBAL Pay and Rabbit Line Pay, across both Singapore and Thailand. These can be used at all merchants displaying the VIA brand logo and over 1.6 million Kasikornbank merchants displaying the ThaiQR code.

This makes VIA the first cross-border mobile payment alliance in Asia.

The VIA alliance will promote Thailand's tourism in the digital era and is in line with the government's digital economy policy based on Thailand’s 4.0 model. - Mr Somchai Lertsutiwong, CEO of AIS
 

Singtel and AIS debut VIA, Asia’s first cross-border mobile payment alliance, enabling Singapore-Thailand cross-border mobile payments with Singtel Dash, AIS GLOBAL Pay and Rabbit Line Pay, in partnership with Kasikornbank.
 

What makes it special?

The VIA alliance is the first initiative of its kind to connect both telco and non-telco mobile wallets across borders to create a region-wide payment network that will enable consumers to use their local mobile wallets when traveling. Whether using Singtel Dash at home or abroad, there is no change in how you transact.

For small and mid-sized merchants, who may not accept credit and debit cards, adopting VIA can be more cost-effective, and can also expand their customer base. VIA is open to other mobile payment apps which will gain instant access to the merchant and customer bases of alliance members across the region. VIA works with TransferTo as a payment platform partner.

This is a game changer for the Singtel Group and the region. The VIA alliance is aimed at unifying Asia’s fragmented payments scene by connecting different mobile wallet systems across the region. We see a tremendous opportunity to drive the adoption of mobile payments which supports ASEAN’s push towards financial inclusion and vision of a single digital market.  - Mr Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel’s International Group

A Singtel Dash customer buying leather goods at Chatuchak Weekend Market with her Dash app. (Image source: Singtel.)


What about the exchange rates used?

VIA provides a transparent, seamless and secure way for travelers to use their mobile wallets to pay in their home currencies at competitive exchange rates when in Singapore and Thailand. This frees them from the hassle of carrying foreign currency and incurring cross-border transaction fees.

To prove this point, here's a snapshot of a payment made earlier in the day using Singtel Dash in Bangkok:-

And here's the currency conversion rate according to XE at the point of publishing this article:-

So it does seem like the exchange rate is reasonably competitive.


Will this initiative see light in other countries?

The Singtel Group will 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, and non-telcos including China’s Ping An eWallet, owned by Ping An Insurance Group.

We are extremely excited to give Dash customers the ability to use their wallets in Thailand and soon, even more countries in the region. Now, our customers not only stay connected with our mobile roaming service when overseas, they will also have a roaming wallet which they can use to make purchases while abroad. - Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, Consumer Singapore, Singtel.


Do I need to be a Singtel customer to benefit from Singtel Dash?

Fortunately, Singtel Dash is the only all-in-one mobile payments solution in Singapore that allows users to commute, shop and send money locally and overseas. It is available to everyone, regardless of telco or banking relationship or device model.


What about Thai residents traveling to Singapore, how will they benefit from this cross-border payment service?

The VIA service is accessible to more than 42 million LINE chat users in Thailand. Among them are over 5 million Rabbit LINE Pay users who just need to download AIS GLOBAL Pay to use the e-wallet feature on Rabbit LINE Pay when in Singapore. Customers can pay for taxi rides, services or dining at thousands of merchant points, including Comfort Delgro, Singapore’s largest taxi company, KFC, Pizza Hut, Breadtalk and 7-Eleven.


How do I get started?

  1. Top-up your local mobile wallet: Singtel Dash for Singapore residents and GLOBAL Pay for Thai residents.

  2. Travel overseas; Thailand and Singtel respectively (for now).

  3. In Thailand: Look for VIA logo or merchants using the ThaiQR code to start your cashless journey.


Launch promotion

To celebrate the launch of the service between Singapore and Thailand, Singtel Dash is offering a slew of perks that include a 10% cashback (up to a cap of S$5, valid till 31st December) on all Singtel Dash payments made in Thailand and S$5 for 1GB of data roaming in Thailand for Singtel customers (usually priced at S$12, valid till 31st October 2018). Meanwhile, AIS GLOBAL Pay is offering a THB100 real-time cashback for Rabbit Line Pay users on their first purchase of more than THB100 in Singapore.

Other promotions:-

  • 63% off Etiqa travel insurance when booked online and paying via Singtel Dash. Valid till 31st December 2018, enter your 16-digit Dash Visa Virtual Account number and enter promo
    code DASH2THAI upon checkout to enjoy the promotion.
     
  • 8% off IUIGA travel and outdoor items. Valid till end of November, enter your 16-digit Dash Visa Virtual Account number and type promo code DASH8 upon checkout to enjoy the promotion.
Join HWZ's Telegram channel here and catch all the latest tech news!
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.