Bridge Alliance, a leading international telecommunications alliance and AIS, welcomes Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) as a new member. This partnership offers diverse and unique IoT services to customers, with unprecedented access to the Asian market. Businesses operating in Thailand can also provide regional and global IoT services through AIS as a member of the Bridge Alliance. This collaboration creates a "Gateway Connecting Europe and Asia-Pacific," opening opportunities for IoT businesses.

Deutsche Telekom, a global telecommunications leader from Germany, operates in more than 50 countries worldwide. This collaboration increases the number of Bridge Alliance members to 35, covering more than 100 markets and over a billion customers across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

DT is a world leading telco with a global presence in over 50 countries. DT will open the doors to new IoT business opportunities with European companies for Bridge Alliance’s member operators.Meanwhile, Bridge Alliance can help DT further differentiate its IoT services and solutions for its customers, providing the latter with unprecedented access to Asia. Together, the joint cooperation between Bridge Alliance and DT and their collective global coverage have forged a “Gateway between Europe and APAC” for enterprises seeking to expand their IoT business in multiple markets.

Dr Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance, says, “We are incredibly excited to welcome Deutsche Telekom to the Bridge Alliance family. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year and DT’s membership and the expansion of Bridge Alliance’s reach to include Europe makes 2024 a truly milestone year for us. We look forward to a productive and robust collaboration with DT to capture more IoT growth opportunities together!”

“We are very pleased to now be a strong partner for the Bridge Alliance. We are pooling the know-how and technical expertise of all members. Together, we always offer our customers the best connectivity solution for their global challenge,” emphasises Dennis Nikles, Managing Director of Deutsche Telekom IoT. “For companies from the Asian region, it is now even easier to do IoT business in Europe. This is particularly interesting for the growing market of Asian electric vehicles in Europe. But European customers also benefit. A strong global offering - all under one contract, one management and one globally standardised service.”

In recent years, the Asian automotive OEM sector, especially the electric vehicle market has witnessed exponential growth in markets such as China, Japan and Korea. China was the frontrunner for electric cars, accounting for around 60% of global electric car sales1 in 2022, while Europe was the second largest market with one in every five cars sold an electric car. The Bridge Alliance-DT partnership provides a launch pad for both electric vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) seeking connectivity globally beyond Asian shores and European automakers looking to expand their connected car business in Asia Pacific.

Asia is known to be a challenging region for new business expansion, given that Asian markets have very different levels of market maturity, regulations and technological capabilities across its markets. Bridge Alliance offers an award-winning multi-domestic IoT solution which helps companies deploy connected products such as connected cars in multiple countries in the region. Its unique lead-operator model enables customers to ink a contract with just one lead member operator, supported by fellow Bridge Alliance premier member operators across the region. This approach removes the complexity of multi-market deployment while allowing the customer to enjoy excellent network quality and local market expertise in its target markets.

Phupa Akavipat Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer AIS, said, “Deutsche Telekom's integration into the Bridge Alliance will enhance AIS's capability to deliver services through digital solutions and innovations tailored to corporate and business customers. This encompasses markets at both the national and regional levels, 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 significant manufacturing base for leading global automotive companies. This collaboration will undoubtedly expand opportunities for automotive manufacturing and IoT services from Thailand to international markets. AIS is ready to support local businesses to connect with our capabilities in all dimensions, creating opportunities and enhancing the country's competitive edge sustainably through digital technology.”