New Straits Times

BOOST EXPECTS GTV TO GROW 30 TIMES

Weekly gross transactio­n value rose 50 times as at end-Jan, says Axiata Digital CEO

- FARAH ADILLA bt@mediaprima.com.my

BOOST, the electronic wallet applicatio­n (ewallet) developed by Axiata Digital Services Sdn Bhd, is targeting 30 times growth in gross transactio­n value (GTV) this year.

Axiata Digital chief executive

officer Mohd Khairil Abdullah said the e-wallet weekly GTV as at end-January this year had grown 50 times compared with the same period a year ago.

Khairil did not disclose details on the GTV numbers due to competitio­n.

“We are excited about the prospects. As much as we have grown last year, by early March this year we crossed our last year’s number in terms of GTV.

“We are now, to a certain extent, at a tipping point where Malaysian consumers in general are starting to accept e-wallet as an alternativ­e form of payment.

“I think competitio­n is great as it educates the public about the use of e-wallet. I quite encourage sensible competitio­n in the market as it helps grow the ecosystem,” he said, here, on Thursday.

Boost also targets to close the year with a total of five million users.

Last year, Boost grew its user base by nearly six times and today it has 3.9 million registered users.

Khairil said the market may move to consolidat­e to between three and five main players in the next two to three years.

There are now more than 40 emoney licencees in Malaysia.

“At the same time, we expect there would still be other niche ewallets that focus on specific segments.

“Many e-wallet players may not have the capacity to sustain the business either financiall­y or in terms of gaining user acceptance fast enough to remain relevant.

“Interopera­bility will also be key and Boost is supportive of it through partnershi­ps with an ever growing list of local and internatio­nal brands,” said. Khairil.

 ??  ?? Mohd Khairil Abdullah
Mohd Khairil Abdullah

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