Felda Mobile Sdn Bhd aims to attract 500,000 Felda settlers nationwide to subscribe to products and services under its mobile digital service provider (MDSP) venture with Tune Talk Sdn Bhd in the next two-and-a-half years to three years.

Felda Mobile CEO Mohamed Shah Redza Hussein said the first phase of the venture would start this December whereby the company is slated to launch its digital value added services including messaging system with push notifications and remittance service.

The services would be accessible through its prepaid SIM card for the settlers and will be rollout in phases, he added.

"We are in the midst of producing the SIM card and then distribute it to our resellers network, which we are currently building within the Felda community," he told reporters after signing an agreement with Tune Talk here today.

Also present were Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and Tune Talk CEO Jason Lo.

Mohamed Shah Redza said Felda Mobile aimed to be a total MDSP specifically for the Felda Community, which encompasses the Felda Corporate entity and Felda settlers, adding the company would expand the service to postpaid early next year.

Felda Mobile is a joint venture (JV) between Koperasi Permodalan Felda Malaysia 2 Bhd (KPF2) and Niche Impact Sdn Bhd, and supported by various other technology and digital value added partners.

KPF2 holds a 30 percent stake in the JV while Niche Impact owns the remaining 70 percent.

Its technology host and co-branding partner is Tune Talk and it rides on Celcom's national telecommunications infrastructure.

"There is no financial investments from Felda for this JV. What they provide us is the subscribers. The entire funding of RM7 million for Felda Mobile is undertaken by Niche Impact," said Mohamed Shah Redza. -- Bernama