Bridge Alliance and AIS, leading international telecommunications alliances, have welcomed Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) as a new member. The partnership will provide customers with diverse and unique IoT services along with unprecedented access to the Asian market. Companies operating in Thailand can also offer regional and global IoT services through AIS, a member of Bridge Alliance. The collaboration will create a “gateway between Europe and Asia Pacific” and expand IoT business opportunities.
Deutsche Telekom, a global telecommunications giant based in Germany, operates in more than 50 countries around the world. With this partnership, the number of Bridge Alliance members will increase to 35, covering more than 100 markets and more than 1 billion customers across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
DT is a leading global telecommunications company with presence in more than 50 countries. DT will open new IoT business opportunities with European companies for Bridge Alliance member operators. Meanwhile, Bridge Alliance will help DT further differentiate its IoT services and solutions for customers, providing them with unprecedented access to Asia. The joint cooperation between Bridge Alliance and DT and the global networks of both companies have created a “Europe-APAC Gateway” for companies looking to expand their IoT business in multiple markets.
Dr Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance, said: “We are delighted to welcome Deutsche Telekom to the Bridge Alliance family. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, 2024 truly marks a milestone year for us with DT's membership and Bridge Alliance's expanded reach across Europe. We look forward to a productive and strong collaboration with DT to capture further growth opportunities in IoT.”
“We are very pleased to be a strong partner in the Bridge Alliance. We bring together the know-how and expertise of all our members. Together we always offer the best connectivity solutions for our customers' global challenges,” emphasizes Dennis Nickles, Managing Director of Deutsche Telekom IoT. “It's now even easier for companies from the Asian region to do IoT business in Europe. This is particularly interesting for the growing Asian electric vehicle market in Europe. But our European customers also benefit: a powerful global offering – all with one contract, one management and one globally standardized service.”
In recent years, the Asian automotive OEM sector, especially the electric vehicle market, has seen rapid growth in markets such as China, Japan and Korea. China has been a pioneer in electric vehicles, accounting for approximately 60% of global electric vehicle sales in 2022, while Europe was the second largest market with one in five cars sold being electric. The Bridge Alliance and DT's partnership provides a launch pad for both electric vehicle OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) seeking global connectivity beyond Asia, and European automakers looking to expand their connected car business in the Asia Pacific region.
Asia is notoriously a challenging region for new businesses to expand in due to significant differences in market maturity, regulations and technology capabilities across markets. Bridge Alliance provides award-winning, multi-domestic IoT solutions that help companies deploy connected products, such as connected cars, across multiple countries in the region. Our unique lead operator model allows customers to sign an agreement with one lead member operator and receive support from Bridge Alliance premier member operators across the region. This approach removes the complexity of multi-market deployments and ensures customers enjoy superior network quality and local market expertise in their target markets.
Phupa Akavipat, Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer at AIS, said: “Deutsche Telekom's integration into the Bridge Alliance will strengthen AIS's capabilities to serve corporate and business customers through tailored digital solutions and innovations, covering both country and regional level markets, particularly in Asia Pacific and Europe. The focus is on integrating IoT and 5G technologies with Thailand's industrial sectors, such as the automotive industry which is transitioning to electric vehicles. Thailand is a key manufacturing hub for global leading automotive companies. This collaboration will definitely expand opportunities for automotive manufacturing and IoT services from Thailand to international markets. AIS is ready to help local companies in all aspects connect with our capabilities, create opportunities and sustainably enhance the country's competitiveness through digital technology.”
