Daily Briefing: Mobile service providers to roll out plans for seniors; Ackcio raises a pre-series A funding co-led by Wavemaker

And Dream Cruises to resume operations in July.

From ChannelNews Asia:

Five mobile service providers—Singtel, M1, StarHub, Circles.Life, and TPG—will start rolling out mobile plans with “larger data bundles at a lower cost” for seniors starting 29 June, according to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the newly formed SG Digital Office (SDO).

Meanwhile, called the Mobile Access for Seniors, will provide eligible lower-income seniors with a subsidised smartphone and a one-year subsidised mobile data plan from M1, Singtel, StarHub or TPG.

The initiatives are part of the Seniors Go Digital programme which was launched last month with the aim to raise the digital skills of 100,000 seniors by the end of this year.

Those eligible can choose to purchase a basic smartphone with co-payment starting from S$20 and $5 monthly mobile plans that offer at least 5GB of data.

The data plans will also include complimentary value-added services like caller number display and cybersecurity protection and will have no excess data charges.

Read more here. 

From e27:

Singapore-based wireless solutions provider Ackcio has completed its undisclosed pre-series A capital, co-lead by Wavemaker Partners, and Michael Gryseels, President of True Digital Group, according to an announcement.

Existing and new investors, including SEEDS Capital, AccelerAsia Ventures, Aletra Capital Partners, Foundamental, and Entrepreneur First, participated in this round.

“The additional funds will help us expand our presence in our existing markets and also expand to new markets in the coming months,” said Ackcio’s co-founder and CEO Dr. Nimantha Baranasuriya.

In Singapore, Ackcio’s solutions have been used for monitoring geotechnical sensors in major infrastructure development projects, such as the Thomson–East Coast MRT line, Bedok Canal expansion, and Paya Lebar Quarter.

The company was recently awarded a large contract to supply its equipment to a new infrastructure development project at the Changi Airport.

Read more here. 

From ChannelNews Asia:

Genting Cruise Lines’ brand Dream Cruises, will resume operations in Taiwan, according to an announcement.

"Dream Cruises will be the first cruise line in the world to begin sailing after the global cruise industry was shut down due to the pandemic,” said KT Lim, chairman and CEO of Genting Hong Kong, the parent company of Genting Cruise Lines.

Starting 26 July, the Explorer Dream will operate two- and three-night itineraries that depart from Keelung with stops at Penghu, Matzu and Kinmen islands.

The company highlighted Taiwan's low numbers of COVID-19 cases and said local authorities have taken the proactive step to reinvigorate their economy and open up tourism.

The company said in recent months, it has re-examined and improved its hygiene protocols, including social distancing in dining, entertainment and public areas, as well as fresh air ventilation in cabins.

Read more here.