In October 2018, GSMA announced a partnership with fourteen mobile operators across the Asia Pacific region, including Celcom, Dialog, DTAC, M1, Maxis, Ncell, Optus, Robi, Smart, Smartfren, Singtel, True, XL and Xpand. Since the launch of this partnership, the APAC IoT partnership programme MNO members have grown to 37 MNOs in 17 APAC countries and 3 MEA countries. It is the largest Internet of Things (IoT) community in the region, with over 500 partners including mobile operators, consultants, developers, manufacturers, system integrators and vertical solution providers.
The partnership programme is aimed at creating a platform for media awareness of IoT innovation and leadership by operators; raising the profile of operator products and services delivered over MNO licensed spectrum; providing local window to global program as an on-ramp to more engagement; and offering capacity building for local regulators / stakeholders, ecosystem development collaboration, and best practices support.