Fostering Digitally Inclusive Societies
As digitalisation accelerates across Southeast and South Asia, gaps in connectivity, affordability and digital capability not only constrain participation in the digital economy but also impact our prospects as a business.
We aim to bridge this digital divide by strengthening network access, building digital capabilities, developing targeted digital services and promoting responsible technology use. Through these actions, we can unlock sustainable economic opportunities that empower underserved communities and support long‑term, shared value creation.
Our Approach to Digital Inclusion
We work with governments, partners and community organisations to advance our digital inclusion efforts, driving positive change for lower-income groups, women and girls, senior citizens, rural communities, persons with disabilities and individuals with limited digital literacy, among other underserved groups.
Expanding broadband connectivity in urban and rural areas and improving access to essential digital services
Providing digital literacy and intermediate skills programmes to support employability and participation in the digital economy
Supporting inclusive digital innovation, financial inclusion and digital services that benefit businesses and underserved communities
Promoting safe digital participation and responsible technology use
World Benchmarking Alliance
In 2025, we ranked 18th out of 200 companies globally (up from 22nd in 2024) in the Digital Inclusion Benchmark, an annual assessment of the contributions of the world’s most influential digital technology and communications companies towards fostering a more inclusive digital economy. Under 2025’s assessment, we were evaluated across five digital inclusion measurement areas – access, skills, use, innovation and sustainable value creation – with our high ranking reflecting the integration of digital inclusion considerations across our strategies and operational practices.
Safe And Responsible Use of Technology
Alongside our broader digital inclusion efforts, we are committed to promoting a secure and responsible digital environment. This includes advocating for the safe use of technology, with a particular focus on protecting children and youth from online risks.
Our initiatives include raising awareness of online safety through events and digital content, building information literacy among teachers in underserved areas, and highlighting key issues such as cyberbullying and online privacy.
Key programmes contributing to EDISON Alliance contribution across our footprint:
Our contribution is driven by key programmes spanning three core areas: Education, Financial Inclusion, and Healthcare
Empowers women-owned MSMEs in Indonesia with training in digital soft skills via webinars, courses, forums, incubation programmes and competitions, with the target of digitising approximately 1 million women entrepreneurs by 2025 to #JadiLebihBaik (Be Better).
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
A vital digital resource for fishermen in Indonesia, providing them with location and catch information, weather updates and trip planning support to ensure their safety at sea and improve their economic productivity.
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
Sri Lanka’s national trilingual e-learning portal, delivered in partnership with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, which provides students from grade 1 to 13 with access to educational resources free of data charges.
An ecosystem of vital educational resources – including an app, TV channel and on-ground programme – that empower primary and secondary students in Sri Lanka to fulfil their potential through access to quality education, supported by the delivery of subject-specific lessons, interactive content and essential infrastructure and resources for schools.
Delivered in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), Smart Axiata’s Digital Literacy Programme provides high school students with digital tools and increases their awareness on online safety and responsible internet usage. Smart Axiata also partnered with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) and the Young SEAkers to recruit and train university students to become trainers.
An award-winning fintech app that allows consumers to cashlessly purchase goods, pay bills, buy games and much more.
A suite of services for business owners that enables them to accept local and international QR payments, access business financing and simplify their business transactions with instant settlements and payments, amongst other functionalities.
Sri Lanka’s first and largest mobile money and payment service, enabling users to carry out a variety of financial transactions including merchant payments, bill payments, transfers and cash withdrawals directly from their Dialog mobile phone, bridging the gap for the unbanked and underbanked.
An all-in-one mobile health app for Robi customers that provides a range of healthcare-related services and resources including daily health tips via SMS, live video and audio consultancy with specialised doctors, appointment booking with doctors, health insurance and more.
Ensuring Inclusive Access
We expand access to the digital economy by strengthening connectivity, integrating digital channels into essential services and tailoring solutions for communities facing structural barriers, including remote populations and low-income households.
Key OpCo efforts in 2025 included:
-
Supported emergency connectivity by optimising and expanding network coverage across 11 campsites and zero-rating key banking applications during the Khmer-Thai border conflict
-
Promoted academic inclusion through the Smart Scholar Pack, providing 12 months of data, calls, SMS and educational content to high-performing students
-
Launched affordable weekly and monthly Rean data packages to help students stay connected at low cost
-
Partnered with the 10 Minute School educational tech platform to offer Bangladesh’s first comprehensive AI learning book, with printed copies distributed to school and college libraries across the country
-
Expanded the Health Plus app into a full-fledged digital health ecosystem, delivering over 100,000 telemedicine consultations alongside other essential services
-
Expanded fibre connectivity through partnerships with property developers, building managers, community leaders and local authorities, improving access to high-capacity broadband in urban and peri-urban areas
Training For Digital Skills
To strengthen participation in the digital economy, we offer digital skills training programmes tailored to the needs of youth, educators, women entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities. Outcomes achieved in 2025 included:
-
Partnered with Save the Children Bangladesh to train adolescents and youth in digital skills, entrepreneurship and freelancing
-
Delivered digital literacy workshops with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, training 43 trainers who subsequently reached 3,910 students through direct and peer-led workshops
-
Supported Kid-Kathon 2025, a two-day innovation sprint for lower-secondary students addressing SDG-linked challenges
-
Partnered with the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT) to support CODE-C 2025, engaging a total of 1,585 participants on AI, machine learning, IoT, fintech, cyber security and other topics
-
Scaled the Kidssafe child online safety platform to 4,690 users
-
Partnered with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to conduct awareness sessions for students on cyberbullying, online privacy and responsible digital behaviour
Innovation And Inclusive Services
Digital inclusion means lifting the obstacles facing specific groups, such as enterprises, migrants and low-income communities, from maximising their potential in the digital economy. We do this by developing bespoke digital platforms, products and solutions that specifically meet these unaddressed needs, while funding startups with the ability to catalyse digital growth at the local level.
Our Digital Innovation Funds
Our digital innovation funds catalyse startup ecosystems by providing capital, market access and strategic support.
Total Investees: 15
Total Investees: 4
Fostering Digitally Inclusive Societies
As digitalisation accelerates across Southeast and South Asia, gaps in connectivity, affordability and digital capability not only constrain participation in the digital economy but also impact our prospects as a business.
We aim to bridge this digital divide by strengthening network access, building digital capabilities, developing targeted digital services and promoting responsible technology use. Through these actions, we can unlock sustainable economic opportunities that empower underserved communities and support long‑term, shared value creation.
Our Approach to Digital Inclusion
We work with governments, partners and community organisations to advance our digital inclusion efforts, driving positive change for lower-income groups, women and girls, senior citizens, rural communities, persons with disabilities and individuals with limited digital literacy, among other underserved groups.
Expanding broadband connectivity in urban and rural areas and improving access to essential digital services
Providing digital literacy and intermediate skills programmes to support employability and participation in the digital economy
Supporting inclusive digital innovation, financial inclusion and digital services that benefit businesses and underserved communities
Promoting safe digital participation and responsible technology use
World Benchmarking Alliance
In 2025, we ranked 18th out of 200 companies globally (up from 22nd in 2024) in the Digital Inclusion Benchmark, an annual assessment of the contributions of the world’s most influential digital technology and communications companies towards fostering a more inclusive digital economy. Under 2025’s assessment, we were evaluated across five digital inclusion measurement areas – access, skills, use, innovation and sustainable value creation – with our high ranking reflecting the integration of digital inclusion considerations across our strategies and operational practices.
Safe And Responsible Use of Technology
Alongside our broader digital inclusion efforts, we are committed to promoting a secure and responsible digital environment. This includes advocating for the safe use of technology, with a particular focus on protecting children and youth from online risks.
Our initiatives include raising awareness of online safety through events and digital content, building information literacy among teachers in underserved areas, and highlighting key issues such as cyberbullying and online privacy.
Key programmes contributing to EDISON Alliance contribution across our footprint:
Our contribution is driven by key programmes spanning three core areas: Education, Financial Inclusion, and Healthcare
Empowers women-owned MSMEs in Indonesia with training in digital soft skills via webinars, courses, forums, incubation programmes and competitions, with the target of digitising approximately 1 million women entrepreneurs by 2025 to #JadiLebihBaik (Be Better).
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
A vital digital resource for fishermen in Indonesia, providing them with location and catch information, weather updates and trip planning support to ensure their safety at sea and improve their economic productivity.
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
Sri Lanka’s national trilingual e-learning portal, delivered in partnership with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, which provides students from grade 1 to 13 with access to educational resources free of data charges.
An ecosystem of vital educational resources – including an app, TV channel and on-ground programme – that empower primary and secondary students in Sri Lanka to fulfil their potential through access to quality education, supported by the delivery of subject-specific lessons, interactive content and essential infrastructure and resources for schools.
Delivered in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), Smart Axiata’s Digital Literacy Programme provides high school students with digital tools and increases their awareness on online safety and responsible internet usage. Smart Axiata also partnered with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) and the Young SEAkers to recruit and train university students to become trainers.
An award-winning fintech app that allows consumers to cashlessly purchase goods, pay bills, buy games and much more.
A suite of services for business owners that enables them to accept local and international QR payments, access business financing and simplify their business transactions with instant settlements and payments, amongst other functionalities.
Sri Lanka’s first and largest mobile money and payment service, enabling users to carry out a variety of financial transactions including merchant payments, bill payments, transfers and cash withdrawals directly from their Dialog mobile phone, bridging the gap for the unbanked and underbanked.
An all-in-one mobile health app for Robi customers that provides a range of healthcare-related services and resources including daily health tips via SMS, live video and audio consultancy with specialised doctors, appointment booking with doctors, health insurance and more.
Ensuring Inclusive Access
We expand access to the digital economy by strengthening connectivity, integrating digital channels into essential services and tailoring solutions for communities facing structural barriers, including remote populations and low-income households.
Key OpCo efforts in 2025 included:
-
Supported emergency connectivity by optimising and expanding network coverage across 11 campsites and zero-rating key banking applications during the Khmer-Thai border conflict
-
Promoted academic inclusion through the Smart Scholar Pack, providing 12 months of data, calls, SMS and educational content to high-performing students
-
Launched affordable weekly and monthly Rean data packages to help students stay connected at low cost
-
Partnered with the 10 Minute School educational tech platform to offer Bangladesh’s first comprehensive AI learning book, with printed copies distributed to school and college libraries across the country
-
Expanded the Health Plus app into a full-fledged digital health ecosystem, delivering over 100,000 telemedicine consultations alongside other essential services
-
Expanded fibre connectivity through partnerships with property developers, building managers, community leaders and local authorities, improving access to high-capacity broadband in urban and peri-urban areas
Training For Digital Skills
To strengthen participation in the digital economy, we offer digital skills training programmes tailored to the needs of youth, educators, women entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities. Outcomes achieved in 2025 included:
-
Partnered with Save the Children Bangladesh to train adolescents and youth in digital skills, entrepreneurship and freelancing
-
Delivered digital literacy workshops with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, training 43 trainers who subsequently reached 3,910 students through direct and peer-led workshops
-
Supported Kid-Kathon 2025, a two-day innovation sprint for lower-secondary students addressing SDG-linked challenges
-
Partnered with the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT) to support CODE-C 2025, engaging a total of 1,585 participants on AI, machine learning, IoT, fintech, cyber security and other topics
-
Scaled the Kidssafe child online safety platform to 4,690 users
-
Partnered with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to conduct awareness sessions for students on cyberbullying, online privacy and responsible digital behaviour
Innovation And Inclusive Services
Digital inclusion means lifting the obstacles facing specific groups, such as enterprises, migrants and low-income communities, from maximising their potential in the digital economy. We do this by developing bespoke digital platforms, products and solutions that specifically meet these unaddressed needs, while funding startups with the ability to catalyse digital growth at the local level.
Our Digital Innovation Funds
Our digital innovation funds catalyse startup ecosystems by providing capital, market access and strategic support.
Total Investees: 15
Total Investees: 4
