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Telkomsel vying for 6 million new users in T-Cash system
Telecommunications operator PT Telkomsel is targeting to net around 6 million new users for its cashless T-Cash payment service by the yearâs end
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T
elecommunications operator PT Telkomsel is targeting to net around 6 million new users for its cashless T-Cash payment service by the year's end.
Herman Suharto, Telkomsel's general manager for digital payments and banking product development, said Telkomsel would partner with up to 33,000 new retail outlets from a previous number of 3,000 in order to help achieve its target.
'We will expand the cashless service network to other major cities such as Bandung, Surabaya, Makassar and Medan,' he said recently.
The e-money platform was officially relaunched by the company on Wednesday to introduce a new concept and system, supported by Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
According to Telkomsel's own survey on T-Cash usage, most respondents were satisfied with the service and some others said they would continue using the service.
The average T-Cash user spends an average of Rp 66,000 per transaction.
The system has a small sticker placed in a convenient place, usually on the back of a smartphone, which can be topped up and used to pay for things at selected retail outlets that accept the method. T-Cash comprises three different features: E-money, online payment and pay-on-mobile, or the T-Cash tap method.
Retail outlets that have accepted the payment system include the convenience stores 7-Eleven and Indomaret, fast food giant McDonald's and the cinema chain 21 Cineplex.
Herman added that the T-Cash system would be developed and revamped with two parallel functions: lifestyle and empowerment. The lifestyle function, which aims to net all those who own or are aware of bank accounts, will be the first function to be rolled out. The empowerment function will be launched shortly thereafter.
'The empowerment function will help and assist rural areas and steer them toward mobile or cashless banking services. It will run parallel to the lifestyle function we're rolling out,' he said.
In December last year, Telkomsel CEO Ririek Adriansyah said the company would further develop its mobile banking services, including T-Cash, in 2016 as a way to promote a cashless society.
T-Cash currently has around 20 million users, of whom only around 6 million are active monthly users. Only 300,000 users use the T-Cash tap method.
Herman added that the company would also aim to increase its active monthly user numbers after the system relaunch.
Telkomsel also said that it would likely establish a separate entity for its mobile payments segment.
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