Digital public infrastructure is taking shape through the systems people use to prove identity, make payments and exchange information. Countries build these capabilities through different institutions, standards and service priorities. Understanding the landscape means examining how those capabilities work together and whether they make everyday services easier to complete.
This MOSAIC Wiki collection begins with ASEAN. It explores national approaches, regional connections and lessons that can inform work elsewhere in the Global South. The collection includes the whole ASEAN region, including Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, to support comparison across different economic and institutional settings.
What to look for in a country's DPI landscape
A useful starting point is to examine three shared capabilities: identity and authentication, interoperable payments, and trusted data exchange. The World Bank identifies these as foundational components of DPI. Their practical value depends on the services built around them and the institutions responsible for their operation. World Bank overview
For each country, this collection asks:
- Can a person use a trusted identity to access more than one service?
- Can money move between participating providers without requiring everyone to use the same application?
- Can organisations exchange or verify relevant information under clear access rules?
- Can people correct errors, obtain support and complete a service when the preferred digital channel fails?
Technology is one part of the landscape. Rules about participation, issuer authority, access and accountability determine whether another institution can rely on a digital transaction or piece of evidence. The UN Universal DPI Safeguards initiative provides guidance on individual and societal risks throughout implementation. Universal DPI Safeguards
The regional situation in ASEAN
ASEAN's landscape can be understood through national systems becoming more useful across services, alongside regional arrangements connecting selected functions across borders. Payment connectivity provides particularly visible examples. Identity, government data exchange and sector platforms follow different national paths.
ASEAN now has eleven members, following Timor-Leste's accession on 26 October 2025. The ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030 provides a regional policy reference for the next stage of digital development. Separately, ASEAN announced that all outstanding issues in the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA, negotiations were resolved during the May 2026 Senior Economic Officials Meeting. The conclusion of negotiations is a policy milestone; implementation and operational interoperability require further work. ASEAN membership and DEFA statement · ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030
Payment connections are expanding across borders
The Regional Payment Connectivity initiative brings central banks together to develop payment links, including QR payments and fast payment systems. It began with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in 2022 and subsequently expanded. Membership in the initiative should be distinguished from a particular payment corridor becoming operational. Central-bank statement on regional payment connectivity
Operational examples include the DuitNow–PayNow transfer link between Malaysia and Singapore and the QR payment connection between Thailand and Lao PDR. The supported applications, direction of payment, participating providers and rollout phase matter: a corridor's launch does not mean every application or merchant can use it. Malaysia–Singapore transfer link · Thailand–Lao PDR QR link
Nexus represents a different approach: a common connection model for domestic instant payment systems, rather than a new bespoke integration for each country pair. The BIS reports that the project moved through prototypes and a 2024 blueprint, and was handed over to Nexus Global Payments after the entity was incorporated in 2025. This is evidence of progress towards live implementation, not proof that every intended corridor is already available. BIS Project Nexus
Data exchange already has a regional trade example
The ASEAN Single Window connects national systems to exchange electronic trade documents. It shows how technical exchange, institutional responsibilities and legal recognition can develop together. ASEAN records the progressive use of electronic certificates of origin and customs documentation through this environment. ASEAN Single Window overview
That experience offers a useful comparison for other sectors. A health referral or qualification check would still need its own data definitions, permissions, responsible institutions and rules for accepting evidence. Regional trade connectivity does not automatically establish cross-border acceptance of national digital identities or credentials in every service.
Explore the country situations
| Country | Systems and capabilities covered | Main learning question |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | IKD, SATUSEHAT and QRIS | How can large national programmes improve complete service journeys? |
| Malaysia | MyDigital ID, DuitNow and MyGDX | How do authentication, payments and government data sharing become useful together? |
| Singapore | Singpass, Myinfo, PayNow, SGFinDex and shared government components | How can shared capabilities support public and private services? |
| Thailand | ThaID, PromptPay and Government Data Exchange | How can identity and exchange reduce repeated document submission? |
| Philippines | National ID authentication, InstaPay, PESONet and QR payments | How does an identity programme become an authentication service used by institutions? |
| Viet Nam | VNeID, public-service access and VietQR payment services | How can growing integration translate into measurable service improvements? |
| Cambodia | Bakong, KHQR, CamDX and CamDigiKey | How can payment and data-exchange infrastructure support distinct service journeys? |
| Lao PDR | Lao QR, regional payment links and LaoKYC | How can shared capabilities expand access while keeping services practical? |
| Brunei Darussalam | BruneiID and tarus | How can common identity and payment services support provider participation? |
| Myanmar | MMQR and the context for inclusive service delivery | How should digital progress be assessed in a crisis-affected setting? |
| Timor-Leste | Ti-FAST, TuQR and verify.gov.tl | How can new infrastructure build adoption and support regional participation? |
Reading progress carefully
An activated identity, a registered merchant and a connected facility measure different things. None alone establishes how often people successfully complete a service. For each capability, look for evidence of actual use, transaction reliability, time and cost savings, and access for people facing barriers.
Country comparison is most useful when it identifies a decision others can learn from: how institutions accept evidence, how providers connect, or how a person receives help after a failed transaction. Replicating an application is a smaller task than establishing the arrangements that make it useful across an ecosystem.
DPI in Indonesia
Indonesia provides a useful setting for studying DPI across population identity, health information and payments. IKD, SATUSEHAT and QRIS address different functions through different institutional arrangements. Their progress should be assessed separately before considering how a particular service could reuse them.
Identity and access to services
Identitas Kependudukan Digital, or IKD, is developed by Ditjen Dukcapil under the Ministry of Home Affairs. An official local-government report relaying national Dukcapil figures records 22.48 million activations as of 14 September 2026. This indicates growing enrolment. It does not establish regular use or acceptance by every institution. Dukcapil progress report
The service question is whether someone can use the identity to complete a transaction without submitting the same identity evidence again. Wider institutional access to Dukcapil data should be distinguished from transactions using the IKD application itself.
Health information exchange
SATUSEHAT Platform connects health information systems using standardised exchange arrangements. The Ministry of Health documentation specifies HL7 FHIR for its data model and APIs. SATUSEHAT Mobile is the public-facing application; the platform provides exchange capabilities behind it. SATUSEHAT introduction · FHIR documentation
On 30 July 2026, Kemenkes reported a joint circular with KPK, Kemendagri, BPJS Kesehatan and BSSN to accelerate electronic medical records integrated with SATUSEHAT for JKN claims. This is a documented policy step towards connecting clinical records with financing workflows. It does not establish completed implementation in every facility. Kemenkes update
Payment interoperability
QRIS provides a common payment standard across participating providers. Bank Indonesia reports 65.77 million users and 44.86 million merchants as of June 2026, with 96.68% of merchants classified as MSMEs. These figures document substantial reach. Active use, transaction success and merchant settlement experience remain separate measures. Bank Indonesia release
What progress means for services
Indonesia's experience raises questions about interoperability at scale. In health, relevant records must be usable by authorised providers at the point of care. In business services, identity and payment capabilities need to fit the application's eligibility and decision process.
A useful MOSAIC learning exercise is to map a small-business support journey and identify which institution verifies identity, which checks eligibility and which delivers payment. This is a proposed exercise, not a claim of an existing integration between IKD, SATUSEHAT and QRIS.
DPI in Malaysia
Malaysia's landscape brings together digital authentication, interoperable retail payments and government data sharing. MyDigital ID, DuitNow and MyGDX illustrate how different shared functions can support a wider digital-service ecosystem.
Digital authentication
MyDigital ID is an online identity verification initiative. Its official documentation states that it does not replace MyKad for transactions at physical counters. It supports access to participating online applications and portals. The distinction matters: a digital authentication service and a physical identity document have different roles. MyDigital ID
MyGOV Malaysia provides a gateway to government services. A Ministry of Digital announcement in June 2025 described using MyDigital ID to verify identity and access services through the application. The gateway is the service interface; authentication is a shared capability supporting it. Ministry of Digital announcement
Payments and regional connections
DuitNow supports transfers and QR payments across participating providers. In an August 2026 address, Bank Negara Malaysia described more than three million DuitNow QR merchant touchpoints connected to a growing regional network. Touchpoints should not be treated as a count of unique businesses without further clarification. Bank Negara Malaysia address
Malaysia and Singapore launched the DuitNow–PayNow real-time transfer link in November 2023. It illustrates the reuse of domestic payment infrastructure through agreed cross-border arrangements. Joint launch statement
Government data sharing
MyGDX, the Malaysia Government Central Data Exchange, supports the government's data-sharing agenda. A Ministry of Digital statement in September 2026 identifies its expansion alongside public-sector data digitalisation. The ministry also records the Data Sharing Act 2025 as part of the institutional framework. September 2026 policy statement · Ministry policy resources
What progress means for services
The practical question is whether authentication and authorised data exchange reduce repeated steps in a complete service. A common login can simplify access; another agreement is needed before an agency or business can rely on information held elsewhere.
For MOSAIC, Malaysia offers a useful study of how identity, payment and data-sharing arrangements can support provider participation. A proposed exercise could examine business onboarding, including which evidence may be reused, who approves access and how an incorrect record is corrected.
DPI in Singapore
Singapore provides a regional comparison for the reuse of identity, information and payment capabilities across public and private services. The learning value lies in the relationships between components and the services that use them.
Identity and information reuse
Singpass provides trusted digital access to participating government and business services. Myinfo enables pre-filling of information for participating transactions, reducing manual entry. GovTech also documents digital signing through Singpass. These are distinct functions that can support several applications. GovTech Singpass overview
Payments and shared government components
GovTech describes a shared technology environment covering capabilities such as Singpass, Myinfo, PayNow and API exchange through APEX. This illustrates an infrastructure approach in which agencies can reuse components rather than build every capability independently. PayNow's cross-border link with Malaysia's DuitNow provides a separate example of regional payment connectivity. GovTech shared components · DuitNow–PayNow linkage
A concrete data-sharing use case
SGFinDex allows individuals to access financial information held across participating institutions and government agencies, using Singpass authentication and consent. It shows how identity can support a particular data-sharing purpose, with defined participants and access arrangements. GovTech SGFinDex
What progress means for services
Singapore offers lessons in shared components, onboarding arrangements and information reuse. Countries considering similar approaches need to examine their own institutions, administrative capacity and access barriers.
A MOSAIC discussion can begin with SGFinDex: what makes an institution willing to participate, what permission is required for information sharing and how is the individual informed? Those questions are more transferable than the interface itself.
DPI in Thailand
Thailand combines public digital identity, retail payment infrastructure and government data exchange. These systems provide different ways to reduce friction in transactions and public services.
Identity verification
ThaID is developed by the Department of Provincial Administration for digital identification and authentication. The department describes its use for services requiring identity verification and provides self-registration and assisted-registration routes. Department of Provincial Administration
Payments
PromptPay provides payment infrastructure for transfers using identifiers such as a mobile number or citizen identification number. The Bank of Thailand also documents cross-border QR and transfer connections. Its published cross-border page lists arrangements as of May 2026; availability depends on the corridor and participating providers. PromptPay overview · Cross-border payment arrangements
Government data exchange
The Digital Government Development Agency's Government Data Exchange, or GDX, connects data-producing and data-consuming agencies. Its documentation describes access authorisation, exchange and logging, with data retrieved from the responsible agency. This provides a concrete example of exchange arrangements supporting public services. DGA GDX documentation
What progress means for services
The service-level test is whether authorised agencies can obtain needed information without making a person submit another copy. A successful technical exchange also needs accurate records, agreed meanings and a route to correct errors.
Thailand is useful for studying the relationship between identity verification and a policy of reducing document submission. A proposed MOSAIC exercise could trace one transaction through identification, data access and final decision, showing where responsibilities change between institutions.
DPI in the Philippines
The Philippines offers a useful example of a national identity programme becoming an authentication capability used by other institutions. Its payment systems provide a separate foundation for moving money between participating providers.
From registration to authentication
The Philippine Statistics Authority operates the National ID programme and National ID Authentication Services, or NIDAS. On 28 August 2026, PSA reported a subscription agreement with the Bank of the Philippine Islands to support digital identity verification and bank account opening. This is a documented adoption step by a specific institution, rather than evidence of universal integration across banking. PSA announcement
The important distinction is between someone having an identity record and another institution being able to authenticate that identity in a service. Institutional integration, staff procedures and exception handling determine how useful that capability becomes.
Retail payment infrastructure
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas documents InstaPay, PESONet and interoperable QR payment arrangements within its payment-system resources. InstaPay and PESONet support different transfer arrangements. The BSP's current listings also use the term InstaPay QR, including a reference to the earlier QR Ph person-to-person designation. These names and service categories should retain their current official definitions. BSP payments and settlements
What progress means for services
The next evidence to examine is successful account opening or service access, including what happens when authentication fails. Registration totals and institution-subscription announcements measure different stages of adoption.
For MOSAIC, the Philippines offers a practical discussion about onboarding: how can a financial institution reuse authentication while maintaining responsibility for its own checks and decisions? The same question can be explored in benefits or education services, with the appropriate authority and data permissions.
DPI in Viet Nam
Viet Nam's landscape shows digital identity being integrated into public-service access and sector transactions, alongside an expanding QR payment ecosystem. VNeID and NAPAS payment services offer two distinct entry points for studying this development.
Identity linked to services
A 7 January 2026 Government News report describes VNeID as a national digital identity application connected to services including healthcare, social welfare, taxation, banking and administration. It reports 67 million digital identity accounts and 50 integrated digital services at that time. These figures indicate scale and integration breadth; they do not establish equal usage or outcomes across all services. Government News VNeID report
The same report provides examples of identity-supported health insurance and administrative transactions. The value of such arrangements should be examined through the specific workflow: which record is reused, which institution verifies it and whether the person completes the process more easily.
Domestic and cross-border payments
NAPAS describes its QR payment ecosystem through services including VietQRPay and VietQRGlobal. On 2 July 2026, it announced a service enabling users of participating Singapore payment applications to pay at VietQRGlobal acceptance points in Viet Nam. This is a defined direction of payment and provider arrangement, rather than a claim that all applications in both countries are mutually compatible. NAPAS payment ecosystem · Singapore–Viet Nam launch
What progress means for services
Viet Nam is useful for examining how a national identity capability gains practical value through integration. Further questions concern information accuracy, access controls, user support and whether each connected service reduces effort or improves decisions.
A MOSAIC learning exercise could compare one identity-supported public service with a cross-border merchant payment. The systems have different purposes, but both depend on clear participation rules and reliable institutional connections.
DPI in Cambodia
Cambodia provides concrete examples of shared infrastructure for payments and government data exchange. Bakong and KHQR support payment interaction, while CamDX and CamDigiKey support exchanges and authentication for participating digital services.
Payments through Bakong and KHQR
The National Bank of Cambodia describes Bakong as a transfer service connecting customers of participating banks, financial institutions and payment providers. KHQR provides a common QR arrangement through which a merchant can accept payments from participating operators. Bakong and KHQR serve related but distinct roles in the payment ecosystem. National Bank of Cambodia Bakong resources
Cross-border connections continue to develop. The National Bank of Cambodia reported the launch of the Singapore-scans-KHQR phase on 30 March 2026. The phase and supported applications matter when describing the practical availability of a payment connection. National Bank of Cambodia launch announcement
Data exchange and authentication
CamDX is Cambodia's government data-exchange platform. Its published documentation describes CamDigiKey as an authentication application for participating government services. Online business registration is a documented example: information is routed to relevant agency systems through CamDX, with CamDigiKey supporting user authentication. CamDX documentation
This example connects shared digital capabilities with a defined administrative process. The portal, authentication service, data exchange and agency decisions perform different jobs.
What progress means for services
Cambodia offers a useful way to discuss business formalisation alongside payment acceptance. Registering a business, verifying its status and receiving a customer payment require different evidence and rules, even when they form part of the same business journey.
A proposed MOSAIC exercise could map how registration evidence might be reused in another application. The receiving institution would still need to agree which evidence it accepts and how updates or corrections are handled.
DPI in Lao PDR
Lao PDR's landscape can be explored through interoperable payment development and digital services such as LaoKYC. These capabilities should be examined in terms of their actual scope and use, rather than assuming that a service application represents a complete national infrastructure stack.
Payment infrastructure and regional links
The Bank of Thailand and Bank of Lao PDR launched a cross-border QR payment connection on 3 April 2024. The first phase enabled users of participating Lao banking applications to scan Thai PromptPay QR codes. The announcement described a phased rollout, illustrating why direction and availability need to be specified for each corridor. Joint central-bank launch statement
Lao PDR also joined the Regional Payment Connectivity initiative in April 2024. That institutional participation supports cooperation; the availability of individual links is a separate operational question. Regional payment connectivity statement
Identity-related digital services
Official government resources document LaoKYC, including its use in the pandemic-era Lao Susu initiative and vaccine-related services. The current government service website provides application guidance. This is evidence of an identity-related service capability; the cited resources do not establish universal adoption or acceptance across all public and private services. Ministry launch record · LaoKYC guidance
What progress means for services
The useful questions concern access, provider participation and whether capabilities can serve more than their original use case. A service needs to remain practical for people who require assistance or cannot reliably use the preferred digital channel.
For MOSAIC, Lao PDR offers a setting for discussing a focused pilot that reuses an existing payment or verification capability, measures completion rates and establishes support before expanding.
DPI in Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam's landscape includes common digital identity and national instant payment services. These provide a basis for studying how shared capabilities gain value as more service providers adopt them.
Digital identity
BruneiID's official resources identify its mobile application, digital identity card and passwordless login as available in 2026. The developer's application listing describes access for eligible citizens, permanent residents and expatriates holding valid Brunei identity cards. The website separately marks credential verification as forthcoming, so that capability should not be assumed to be generally operational. BruneiID website · Official developer application listing
Instant payments
National Digital Payments Network, or ndpx, announced the public launch of tarus on 12 March 2025. The operator describes real-time transfers between participating banks and e-wallets using identifiers such as a phone number. Its value depends on the institutions connected and the transactions people can complete through them. ndpx launch announcement
What progress means for services
A common identity or payment service becomes more useful when organisations can join under clear arrangements and people can rely on it in everyday transactions. Availability of an application is one milestone; provider adoption, successful use and support are further measures.
Brunei Darussalam offers a useful MOSAIC comparison for service-provider onboarding. A proposed exercise could examine how a public service or merchant integrates a shared capability, what responsibilities it retains and how an error reaches the right support team.
DPI in Myanmar
Myanmar's digital infrastructure must be understood alongside the country's wider service-delivery conditions. A payment-system announcement provides information about a technical initiative; assessment of public benefit also requires evidence about access, reliability and people's circumstances.
A common QR payment standard
A Ministry of Information report published on 28 February 2025 records the launch of the national MMQR standard developed by the Central Bank of Myanmar. This is a documented step in payment standardisation. It should not be treated as proof of comprehensive interoperability, universal merchant coverage or the quality of service experienced by users. Ministry of Information launch report
The service-delivery context
UNDP and UN Women research published in June 2026 describes the effects of conflict, economic contraction and service disruptions on livelihoods and access. This context matters when assessing digital services: the ability to complete a transaction depends on more than the availability of a payment interface. UNDP and UN Women report
What progress means for services
For MOSAIC, the priority learning questions concern safe access, service continuity and practical alternatives. Who can use the system, who cannot, and what happens when records, devices or service channels are unavailable?
This profile focuses on a documented payment initiative and the conditions for inclusive use. The cited evidence is insufficient to describe nationwide identity or government data-exchange coverage. Any broader assessment should add reliable evidence on those functions and examine impacts on affected communities.
DPI in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste's recent developments provide a useful example of new payment infrastructure and document verification being introduced alongside regional participation. Following its accession to ASEAN in October 2025, the country offers a setting for examining how national foundations can prepare for wider connections. ASEAN regional integration reference
Instant payments and a national QR standard
Banco Central de Timor-Leste launched Ti-FAST and TuQR on 12 September 2026. Ti-FAST is described as a national instant payment system operating around the clock. TuQR is the common national QR payment standard for participating banking and e-wallet applications. The central bank identifies an initial set of integrated institutions and describes further onboarding. Central-bank launch announcement
The launch statement says the first stage focuses on domestic payments. Cross-border connectivity is planned for subsequent phases, subject to agreements, technical arrangements and approvals. A separate cooperation memorandum with Cambodia therefore should not be described as an already operational payment corridor. Timor-Leste–Cambodia cooperation memorandum
Verifying official documents
On 1 June 2026, the government announced the launch of verify.gov.tl in cooperation with Cambodia. The announcement describes QR-based verification of official documents and a use case involving driving licences. This demonstrates a specific verification capability and an example of regional technical cooperation. Government launch announcement
What progress means for services
The immediate evidence to seek is adoption: which institutions connect, which merchants accept payments and whether people can reliably verify the relevant documents. Operating capacity, support and safeguards need to develop alongside those connections.
For MOSAIC, Timor-Leste offers a concrete discussion about reuse across countries. A solution developed elsewhere can support a national service, while authority over documents, participation and decisions must remain clear in the receiving country's setting.
Questions that connect the country experiences
The country profiles point to several useful areas for shared learning:
- From enrolment to use: what turns an identity account into a capability accepted in a useful service?
- From connection to outcomes: which exchanges reduce time, cost or repeated document submission?
- From one provider to an ecosystem: how can institutions join under clear standards and responsibilities?
- From a domestic service to a regional connection: what must change in trust, settlement, permissions and support?
- From a pilot to continuing operations: who funds, maintains and improves the service after launch?
Verifiable credentials can be explored within this landscape as one way to exchange evidence. The issuer's authority, the evidence behind the claim, validity and the verifier's decision rules remain necessary. The W3C specification explicitly distinguishes verification from establishing the truth of every underlying claim. W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model 2.0
For MOSAIC, a useful starting point is one specific journey: a business applying for support, a patient continuing treatment or a person proving a qualification. Map the institutions and checks involved, identify a capability that can be reused, and agree how success and failures will be measured. A proposed pilot should be labelled as such until its deployment and results are documented.