Progresif

Progresif Sdn Bhd. (formerly known as Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd) is a Brunei-based Government Linked Company headquartered in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Founded in 2014, Progresif’s mission is to establish Progresif as a catalyst for change in the communications, digital, media and lifestyle sectors focused on enhancing quality of life and supporting economic growth in Brunei. Through the development of profitable, long-term, products and services, including cellular devices and services, nationwide Wi-Fi access points, mobile and fixed broadband  internet, and enterprise connectivity. Progresif now has more than 130 employees and around 200,000 customers,[2] with eight retail stores throughout the kingdom.

Progresif Sdn. Bhd.
TypeGovernment-linked company[1]
IndustryTelecommunications and Media
Founded2014
HeadquartersBandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Area served
Brunei
Key people
Nurul Haniah Haji Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer
Junaidi Bahrum, Sales Director
Radi El Fassed, Commercial Director
Johan Johar, Chief Corporate Strategy Officer
Mohammad Yazdi Yahya, Human Capital Director
ProductsResidential Cellular Service, Mobile Banking and Media
ServicesHSDPA, UMTS, W-CDMA, EDGE, GPRS, GSM
OwnerDarussalam Assets
Number of employees
134
WebsiteProgresif

Some of Progresif’s product developments include Brunei’s first: internet radio station and app (Progresif Radio), mobile wallet (Progresif PAY), events and ticketing platform (Progresif Events), and educational platform (Progresif Minds). Progresif also has a quarterly magazine that covers Progresif’s recent Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagements, alongside an eclectic mix of editorial features about people, places and concepts of interest in and around Brunei and abroad. Progresif has also launched the Progresif Media application, a content streaming platform to showcase local content, local creators and local culture alongside some of the most exciting shows and movies from around the world. Hollywood blockbusters, epic regional films and the best local content all housed on Brunei's first streaming app.

History

Progresif was established in June 2014 after acquiring assets and infrastructure left by the now defunct B-Mobile Communications Sdn Bhd.[3]

In July 2014, Progresif appointed Paul Hyde as Chief Executive Officer,[4] and entered into an $18 million contract with Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment provider Huawei to help update legacy infrastructure and launch a network stabilisation program.[5] This project required a full replacement of the mobile core network and Radio Access Network, in addition to upgrading the backhaul network and all base stations from 3G to HSPA+. In February 2016, the company announced plans to launch 4G LTE technology, and in April 2017, the company submitted an official request to Brunei's telecoms regulatory body, Authority for Info-Communications Technology Industry (AITI), to begin trial of a 4G network.[6][7][8][9]

At the Asia Communications Awards 2016, Progresif was recognized with awards for Best Brand Campaign for its "Are You Progresif" campaign, and Engineering Project of The Year for its network stabilization project.[10][11] In 2018, the company was again recognized with a Best Brand Campaign award for its ‘Radio will never be the same again’ campaign, which supported the launch of Progresif Radio.[12]

In June 2017, telecom industry veteran Paul Taylor was named as CEO of the company. [13] In October 2017, Progresif relaunched the company website, adding significant content in the areas of news, local events, and technology, as well as content from the company's quarterly magazine, and articles on the Arts & Culture, Environment, Education, and Entrepreneurship.[14]

After the formation of Unified National Network (UNN), Progresif relaunched their products and services[15] in January 2020. At the same time, Hjh Nurul Haniah binti Hj Md Jaafar was internally promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer, having showed tremendous aptitude and leadership skills throughout her 15 years with the company, overlooking 5 departments.

Enterprise Solutions

In 2017, Progresif launched Progresif Solutions, a division devoted to enterprise solutions, particularly for business, banking, and government entities.[16] The first execution was for oil refinery operator Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Hong Kong Tianyi International Holding Co., Ltd.,[17] for a project site in Pulau Muara Besar and company headquarters at the Empire Hotel & Country Club.[18] Progresif Solutions offers tailored solutions involving ethernet services, dedicated internet services, internet of things solutions, mobile voice plans, and SMS broadcast services.

Internet Radio and Magazine

Progresif launched Progresif Radio, Brunei's first mobile radio station, in November 2017, with dedicated apps available in Google Play and the App store.[19][20] The station features localized content, user-generated content, and local bands,[21] as well as premium international content.[22] Auditions for DJ positions at the station attracted more than 100 applicants in August 2017.[23]

The company also produces a quarterly magazine with content based on the four pillars of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.[24]

Progresif PAY mobile wallet

In May 2018, Progresif (partnered with Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam) released Progresif PAY, Brunei's first mobile wallet platform.[25] The branchless banking system allows Progresif subscribers to create a virtual debit card, with which they can pay bills, make donations, send money to other Progresif PAY users, and shop online.[26]

Progresif Events Ticketing Portal

In February 2019, Progresif launched Brunei's first event and e-ticketing platform, Progresif Events. The platform allows event organisers to manage ticket sales, create seating plans and do crowd management for any ticketed event.

The portal allows customers to purchase or book tickets via an online digital transaction and receive e-tickets with a unique QR code that is scanned in order to enter the event.

Progresif Minds Educational Platform

In order to create a platform to that gives locals the opportunity to engage with global thought-leaders and change-makers, and produce a digital repository of interesting talks and masterclasses, Progresif developed Progresif Minds.

The first event organized under Progresif Minds was the Youth Empowerment Conference[27] in September 2019. Organised in partnership with CuriousMind, the event was attended by over 20 acclaimed speakers and 800 participants over two days.

Retail Branches

Progresif has 5 retail stores located around Brunei.[28] They are;

  1. Progresif Brunei International Airport Store, Berakas
  2. Progresif The Mall Store, Gadong
  3. Progresif Times Square Shopping Complex, Berakas
  4. Progresif Tutong Store, Tutong
  5. Progresif Yayasan Store, Bandar Seri Begawan

Corporate Social Responsibility

In February 2017, Progresif announced a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to support the Brunei Vision 2035 initiative of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah. The strategy is built around four pillars: Education, Arts & Culture, Environment, and Entrepreneurship.[29] Projects supported by Progresif include agricultural and outdoor education,[30][31] local environmental events,[32] and wildlife preservation initiatives.[33]

Progresif is active in Brunei startup culture, funding its own startup lab in the company's Gadong headquarters where it provides access to support services for startup businesses.[34] The lab has produced, among others, Dart Logistics, the country's first taxi and ride booking service,[35] and local news startup Scoop Media, which has expanded the scope of local content distributed on Progresif's media channels.[36] In July 2017, Startup Weekend Brunei held its inaugural entrepreneur workshop at the Progresif Headquarters Event Hall.[37][38] The company hosted the Brunei Rice Bowl Startup Awards in November 2017[39] and serves as the awards' National Strategic Partner for Brunei.[40]

To date, Progresif has supported over 255 NGO events, provided resource assistance to 80 groups and enabled over 300 artists to perform, record or showcase their creative talent.

Other major partnerships for Progresif's CSR initiatives include International School Brunei's Borneo Global Issues Conference (ISB BGIC) and Big BWN Project. The ISB BGIC is an annual Model United Nations styled conference held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas and involves over 300 secondary students from schools around Brunei coming together as mock delegates of the United Nations to debate resolutions for serious global issues.

Big BWN Project is a local NGO established in 2015 that focuses on developing the youth, young entrepreneurs, women and artistic talent by creating platforms for exposure and brand building. Some of their most established events and platforms include Big BWN Streetfest, Big BWN Cookout and Tempatan.

1% Pledge

The latest extension to Progresif's Corporate Social Responsibility is the Progresif 1% Pledge. Beginning in December 2019, Progresif has pledged to give back 1% of every dollar earned to initiatives and organisations supporting their four CSR pillars. A big part of the initiative is aimed at creating partnerships with other organisations and inviting them to join Progresif in the pledge, either on a case-by-case or permanent basis. The 1% Pledge is a manifestation of Progresif's commitment to being a social enterprise and sharing corporate goodwill in targeted areas.

References
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  2. Bandial, Ain (December 30, 2019). "As Brunei's telcos scramble to adjust to a new business landscape, how will Progresif meet the challenge?". The Scoop.
  3. Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd. (2015-12-15). "Brunei Darussalam - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband". Market Research Reports® Inc. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  4. "Progresif Cellular appoints CEO". www.customerzone360.com. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  5. Jimi-Ha. "LOCAL NEWS". 3g.modasys.net. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  6. "Progresif to Upgrade 2 Primary Licences | Brunei's No.1 News Website". www.brudirect.com. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  7. Oxford Business Group (2016-02-29). "Competition heats up in Brunei Darussalam's telecoms industry". Oxford Business Group. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
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  12. "Progresif wins award for 'Best Brand Campaign' | Borneo Bulletin Online". borneobulletin.com.bn. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
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  16. Guan, Tan Wee (2017-05-25). "Brunei's Progresif Cellular enters regional market with cost-effective enterprise solutions". Asia News Network. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  17. "Company Overview of Hengyi Industries.Sdn.Bhd". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
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