Digital Inclusion
As the digital landscape grows, many individuals continue to face exclusion due to barriers in access, affordability, and digital readiness.
Operating across emerging markets in Southeast and South Asia, we are committed to narrowing this digital divide by strengthening connectivity — the cornerstone of digital inclusion — and equipping communities with the tools to actively participate in the digital economy.
Our efforts are guided by four key pillars, outlined below, all aimed at unlocking economic opportunities and building a more equitable, connected future for all.
Digital Inclusion
Ensuring universal access to broadband connectivity in both urban and rural areas — with a particular focus on schools — as well as access to educational content and healthcare services
- Connectivity
- Access to Vital Service
Supporting long-term employability in a changing business landscape by building foundational digital literacy and intermediate skills in the use of productivity and digital marketing tools
-
Digital Skills
Powering innovation in local ecosystems through our digital innovation funds, digital financial inclusion initiatives and digital services for business, while improving the lives of marginalised communities through technology, especially for women and girls
-
Innovation for Social Impact
-
Digital Financial Inclusion
-
Digital Services for Business
-
Empowering Marginalised Communities
Mitigating harm by protecting users and promoting the responsible use of technology
-
Mitigating Harm & Responsible Use
World Benchmarking Alliance
In striving to leave no one behind in the digital world, we benchmark our digital inclusion performance against the highest standards. In 2023, we maintained our position in the top quartile of the benchmark for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 22nd out of 200 companies — a reflection of our sustained commitment to digital accessibility and inclusion.
In 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance paused the benchmark assessment to refine its methodology, with evaluations set to resume in 2025. Going forward, companies will be assessed biennially across six key areas: access, skills, use, innovation, sustainable value creation, and social impact. As we move ahead, we remain committed to strengthening our digital inclusion efforts and driving meaningful impact in the communities we serve.
Safe And Responsible Use of Technology
We actively promote a secure and responsible digital environment by advocating for the safe use of technology. Through proactive measures, we work to protect users from cyber risks, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), cyberbullying and other online threats, ensuring a safer digital space for all. Read more from our Integrated Annual Report 2024.
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 are committed to widening access to the digital economy and its myriad benefits. This begins with ensuring reliable connectivity in even the most remote of regions and extends to connecting communities to vital services in education and healthcare.
Crowdsources internet donations to enhance connectivity for underserved schools in Indonesia, simultaneously strengthening digital literacy in these schools
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
Provides accessibility for hearing-impaired individuals in Sri Lanka by offering real-time sign language interpretation services through a mobile application
An innovative solution developed in collaboration with Alita Praya Mitra that integrates smart wearable technology with real-time health monitoring, allowing users to track blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, and physical activity via smartwatches connected to the JAGATARA mobile app, supporting early stroke detection
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
Sri Lanka’s premier free distance education ecosystem, comprising:
-
Nenasa Educational App, a free app that provides top-notch educational materials to primary and secondary students
-
Nenasa TV, a dedicated educational channel aligned with the Sri Lankan national curriculum, offering subject-specific lessons, interactive content, and teacher-led demonstrations
-
Nenasa Smart School, which aims to digitally transform Sri Lanka’s education sector by equipping schools with essential infrastructure and resources, ensuring wider access to quality education
A subsidiary of Dialog that enhances healthcare accessibility in Sri Lanka through innovative digital solutions including:
-
Doc990, which connects users with over 5,000 doctors for appointments, virtual consultations and access to pharmacies and laboratories, in addition to offering AI-powered health scans
-
The Wellness Marketplace, which provides medical packages, including health check-ups, home care, and cosmetic treatments from leading hospitals
Smart promotes digital learning through various products and services including:
-
The SmartNas app, which allows subscribing students to study plans on the Educational Broadcasting Cambodia (EBC) and Onesala platforms at a discounted rate
-
The Smart Laor! Rean Monthly plan, which offers unlimited access to EBC’s platform, regardless of data usage
Training For Digital Skills
We equip local communities, students and MSMEs with the digital skills they need to thrive in the fast-changing digital and technological landscape. Our training and capacity-building initiatives focus on bridging the skills gap, with a strong commitment to empowering women and uplifting rural populations facing literacy challenges.
Equips developers with the skills and tools needed to create innovative applications via training programmes, workshops, seminars, hackathons and competitions
bdapps, Robi’s app store and API hub, has signed MoUs with leading universities to foster innovation and industry-academic knowledge exchange, jointly organising curated workshops, sessions, and student engagement programmes focused on mobile app development and digital entrepreneurship
In collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, and TikTok, Smart advanced digital literacy among high school students in four key provinces, equipping students with essential digital skills, awareness responsible online behaviour, and video editing knowledge
In partnership with the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), Smart supported BarCamp Battambang 2024, providing youth in Battambang and surrounding provinces with greater access to technology and entrepreneurship education
Link Net organised a Strategic AI Implementation event for 25 middle and top management employees, providing insights into leveraging AI for business growth
Innovation And Inclusive Services
We support local startups and entrepreneurs by providing funding and guidance to help scale innovative solutions that drive economic and social progress. At the same time, we foster innovation for social impact through digital solutions that promote financial inclusion, enhance agricultural productivity, improve accessibility, and deliver other inclusive outcomes — enabling sustainable growth and positive change across communities.
The following initiatives represent the highlights of our wide-ranging work in these important areas. To read about all the ways that our OpCos have driven innovation and provided inclusive services in 2024, please download our Integrated Annual Report 2024.
Digital Innovation Funds
Our four digital innovation funds provide start-up founders with financial and technical support, empowering them to develop digital solutions that address their country’s issues, create job opportunities and grow their local digital ecosystem.
Total Investees: 17 (5 exits)
Total Investees: 8
Total Investees: 15
Total Investees: 4
Others Innovation and Inclusive Services
-
Creating awareness about digital technologies amongst women, giving them the skills necessary to capitalise on opportunities in the digital economy.
-
Developing solutions that enable unbanked people to access digital services.
-
Developing innovative digital solutions for businesses, including API platforms, analytics tools and more.
-
Empowering business owners to develop profitable applications through Low Code/No-Code platforms and monetisation tools.
-
Empowering entrepreneurship and digital value creation through training programmes for the general public, developers, youth and underrepresented communities.
-
Supporting businesses through cybersecurity and mobile device management solutions.
-
Developing the eSports and entertainment ecosystem through innovative events that engage the youth.
-
Providing exposure to digital income generation opportunities to youths from marginalised communities.
-
Empowering women entrepreneurs with the tools to scale and fulfil the potential of their businesses.
-
Providing female students with training in entrepreneurship, coding, and other key digital skills, expanding opportunities for their future.
-
Introducing inclusive services, assistive technologies and employment initiatives, alongside digital skills training, for people with disabilities.
Digital Inclusion
As the digital landscape grows, many individuals continue to face exclusion due to barriers in access, affordability, and digital readiness.
Operating across emerging markets in Southeast and South Asia, we are committed to narrowing this digital divide by strengthening connectivity — the cornerstone of digital inclusion — and equipping communities with the tools to actively participate in the digital economy.
Our efforts are guided by four key pillars, outlined below, all aimed at unlocking economic opportunities and building a more equitable, connected future for all.
Digital Inclusion
Ensuring universal access to broadband connectivity in both urban and rural areas — with a particular focus on schools — as well as access to educational content and healthcare services
- Connectivity
- Access to Vital Service
Supporting long-term employability in a changing business landscape by building foundational digital literacy and intermediate skills in the use of productivity and digital marketing tools
-
Digital Skills
Powering innovation in local ecosystems through our digital innovation funds, digital financial inclusion initiatives and digital services for business, while improving the lives of marginalised communities through technology, especially for women and girls
-
Innovation for Social Impact
-
Digital Financial Inclusion
-
Digital Services for Business
-
Empowering Marginalised Communities
Mitigating harm by protecting users and promoting the responsible use of technology
-
Mitigating Harm & Responsible Use
World Benchmarking Alliance
In striving to leave no one behind in the digital world, we benchmark our digital inclusion performance against the highest standards. In 2023, we maintained our position in the top quartile of the benchmark for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 22nd out of 200 companies — a reflection of our sustained commitment to digital accessibility and inclusion.
In 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance paused the benchmark assessment to refine its methodology, with evaluations set to resume in 2025. Going forward, companies will be assessed biennially across six key areas: access, skills, use, innovation, sustainable value creation, and social impact. As we move ahead, we remain committed to strengthening our digital inclusion efforts and driving meaningful impact in the communities we serve.
Safe And Responsible Use of Technology
We actively promote a secure and responsible digital environment by advocating for the safe use of technology. Through proactive measures, we work to protect users from cyber risks, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), cyberbullying and other online threats, ensuring a safer digital space for all. Read more from our Integrated Annual Report 2024.
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 are committed to widening access to the digital economy and its myriad benefits. This begins with ensuring reliable connectivity in even the most remote of regions and extends to connecting communities to vital services in education and healthcare.
Crowdsources internet donations to enhance connectivity for underserved schools in Indonesia, simultaneously strengthening digital literacy in these schools
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
Provides accessibility for hearing-impaired individuals in Sri Lanka by offering real-time sign language interpretation services through a mobile application
An innovative solution developed in collaboration with Alita Praya Mitra that integrates smart wearable technology with real-time health monitoring, allowing users to track blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, and physical activity via smartwatches connected to the JAGATARA mobile app, supporting early stroke detection
(XL Axiata is known as XLSMART since 16 April 2025)
Sri Lanka’s premier free distance education ecosystem, comprising:
-
Nenasa Educational App, a free app that provides top-notch educational materials to primary and secondary students
-
Nenasa TV, a dedicated educational channel aligned with the Sri Lankan national curriculum, offering subject-specific lessons, interactive content, and teacher-led demonstrations
-
Nenasa Smart School, which aims to digitally transform Sri Lanka’s education sector by equipping schools with essential infrastructure and resources, ensuring wider access to quality education
A subsidiary of Dialog that enhances healthcare accessibility in Sri Lanka through innovative digital solutions including:
-
Doc990, which connects users with over 5,000 doctors for appointments, virtual consultations and access to pharmacies and laboratories, in addition to offering AI-powered health scans
-
The Wellness Marketplace, which provides medical packages, including health check-ups, home care, and cosmetic treatments from leading hospitals
Smart promotes digital learning through various products and services including:
-
The SmartNas app, which allows subscribing students to study plans on the Educational Broadcasting Cambodia (EBC) and Onesala platforms at a discounted rate
-
The Smart Laor! Rean Monthly plan, which offers unlimited access to EBC’s platform, regardless of data usage
Training For Digital Skills
We equip local communities, students and MSMEs with the digital skills they need to thrive in the fast-changing digital and technological landscape. Our training and capacity-building initiatives focus on bridging the skills gap, with a strong commitment to empowering women and uplifting rural populations facing literacy challenges.
Equips developers with the skills and tools needed to create innovative applications via training programmes, workshops, seminars, hackathons and competitions
bdapps, Robi’s app store and API hub, has signed MoUs with leading universities to foster innovation and industry-academic knowledge exchange, jointly organising curated workshops, sessions, and student engagement programmes focused on mobile app development and digital entrepreneurship
In collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, and TikTok, Smart advanced digital literacy among high school students in four key provinces, equipping students with essential digital skills, awareness responsible online behaviour, and video editing knowledge
In partnership with the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), Smart supported BarCamp Battambang 2024, providing youth in Battambang and surrounding provinces with greater access to technology and entrepreneurship education
Link Net organised a Strategic AI Implementation event for 25 middle and top management employees, providing insights into leveraging AI for business growth
Innovation And Inclusive Services
We support local startups and entrepreneurs by providing funding and guidance to help scale innovative solutions that drive economic and social progress. At the same time, we foster innovation for social impact through digital solutions that promote financial inclusion, enhance agricultural productivity, improve accessibility, and deliver other inclusive outcomes — enabling sustainable growth and positive change across communities.
The following initiatives represent the highlights of our wide-ranging work in these important areas. To read about all the ways that our OpCos have driven innovation and provided inclusive services in 2024, please download our Integrated Annual Report 2024.
Digital Innovation Funds
Our four digital innovation funds provide start-up founders with financial and technical support, empowering them to develop digital solutions that address their country’s issues, create job opportunities and grow their local digital ecosystem.
Total Investees: 17 (5 exits)
Total Investees: 8
Total Investees: 15
Total Investees: 4
Others Innovation and Inclusive Services
-
Creating awareness about digital technologies amongst women, giving them the skills necessary to capitalise on opportunities in the digital economy.
-
Developing solutions that enable unbanked people to access digital services.
-
Developing innovative digital solutions for businesses, including API platforms, analytics tools and more.
-
Empowering business owners to develop profitable applications through Low Code/No-Code platforms and monetisation tools.
-
Empowering entrepreneurship and digital value creation through training programmes for the general public, developers, youth and underrepresented communities.
-
Supporting businesses through cybersecurity and mobile device management solutions.
-
Developing the eSports and entertainment ecosystem through innovative events that engage the youth.
-
Providing exposure to digital income generation opportunities to youths from marginalised communities.
-
Empowering women entrepreneurs with the tools to scale and fulfil the potential of their businesses.
-
Providing female students with training in entrepreneurship, coding, and other key digital skills, expanding opportunities for their future.
-
Introducing inclusive services, assistive technologies and employment initiatives, alongside digital skills training, for people with disabilities.
