Malaysian rural broadband service provider MEASAT has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Parcel365, an app-based platform that allows consumers and sellers to send and receive parcels 24/7.
The companies are to collaborate on the Digital Village365 initiative that aims to uplift rural communities and stimulate digital economic activities for B40 (the bottom 40% of Malaysian household income) communities.
In the Digital Village365 initiative, Parcel365 will offer logistics and e-commerce platform services as well as training sessions at suitable CONNECTme NOW locations identified by MEASAT. CONNECTme NOW is a high-speed Wi-Fi hotspot service leveraging MEASAT’s satellite broadband system.
Through Parcel365’s app-based smart locker pick-up and drop-off services, rural residents can overcome the challenges of lacking a proper address for pick-up and delivery in remote villages. Sister platform Shopla365 offers e-commerce platform support and business solutions, as well as training to help villages optimise their digital economy potential.
These services will be facilitated through MEASAT’s CONNECTme NOW Wi-Fi hotspots to enable digital applications including transactions, communications, training and other relevant use cases.
Eddie Mok Yew Keong, Co-Founder and Director of Parcel365 says, “There are many unique products that can be offered by Malaysia’s diverse rural communities – and this partnership with MEASAT will facilitate more of them to reach wider markets by easing internet-based logistics connections and supporting training to elevate branding opportunities with better internet connectivity, ultimately improving living standards across the country.”
Parcel365 describes its mission as to establish pick-up & drop-off (PUDO) points in 1,000 locations and to serve 150,000 people daily in e-commerce and delivery activities in Malaysia by 2025.