PLDT expects new foreign partner for Voyager soon

Telco giant PLDT Inc. expects some positive developments in the coming weeks in its search for a strategic partner for its digital innovations arm Voyager Innovations Inc.

“There are a few initiatives underway on Voyager so we hope something will happen in the next few weeks,” PLDT chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said the parties being considered as partners are from Asia, but he declined to identify them at the moment.

PLDT was earlier eyeing internet giant Tencent as Voyager’s strategic partner, but talks with the Chinese firm did not progress, with Pangilinan declaring the potential alliance as a “no-go situation.”

A strategic partner is seen beneficial for Voyager’s operations as the company intends to expand to two to three new markets in Asia within the year.

Voyager was initially expecting to seal a deal with foreign partners within the first quarter.

The company is behind products and services which seek to promote digital access, customer engagement, digital commerce and digital financial services, such as PayMaya and Lendr.

Its other offerings are remittance network Smart Padala, PayMaya Business solution which enables enterprises to receive online and card payments; TackThis! which allows merchants to set up an online shop; online marketplace Takatack; and data sponsored platform and customer engagement tool freenet.