Telstra and Telkom Indonesia to collaborate on ventures investment opportunities

5 AUGUST 2016,
JAKARTA –
Telstra Ventures and PT Metra Digital Investama (MDI), Telkom Indonesia’s
corporate venture arm, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly
explore investment opportunities in the rapidly growing technology start-up
sector in South East Asia.

Telstra
Group Executive, International and New Businesses, Cynthia Whelan said this MOU
further cements the partnership between Telstra and Telkom, and opens up
opportunities for shared growth in the region.

“Over
the past five years, Telstra Ventures has invested over A$200 million in more
than 30 different technology companies, giving us access to new revenue streams
and cutting edge technology we can use in-house and provide to our customers,”
said Ms Whelan.

“Our
ventures investments are increasingly occurring in Asia and we are very excited
to be collaborating with Telkom to identify the best new emerging technology
companies in the region.”

“With
the entrepreneurial talent across South East Asia and a population of 600
million people, including some of the heaviest users of social media and
mobiles in the world, this a great time to be working more closely with
Indonesia’s biggest telecommunications company on investment
opportunities.  There are many emerging technology start-ups in the region,
including in areas like e-commerce, e-health, the Internet of Things and
fintech.

“Through
our existing joint venture with Telkom, telkomtelstra, we have seen the pace
with which new businesses are reaching scale in response to the digital
transformation of the economy and the fact that the middle class in this part
of the world is expected to double over the next decade,” added Ms Whelan.

Telkom
Indonesia Director, Digital and Strategic Portfolio Pak Indra Utoyo said the
MOU will give Telkom access to Telstra’s experience and existing relationships
in global start-up centres in Silicon Valley, China and Israel, coupling them
with Telkom’s unparalleled expertise in the Indonesian market.

“Over
the last two years, Telkom and Telstra have established a good relationship,
bringing network applications and services to businesses in Indonesia through
our joint venture, telkomtelstra.”

“Today,
our continued partnership extends to collaborating on venture opportunities in
the region, where we will again leverage both Telkom and Telstra’s deep local
expertise as well as experience in global ventures investments,” added Pak
Indra.