THIS SRI LANKAN REFUGEE SAW

@thirdnetwork

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Promoted product

Lyca Mobile

Download Lyca Mobile US by Lyca Digital Private Limited on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Lyca Mobile US.

Why it worked

The video leverages a compelling rags-to-riches narrative, focusing on an immigrant's success story and addressing a relatable pain point (expensive international calls). The rapid progression and impressive financial figures create a sense of aspiration and achievement.

Summary

This video tells the story of Subaskaran Allirajah, a Sri Lankan refugee who founded Lyca Mobile, a global prepaid telecom company. It highlights his journey from escaping civil war to building a business worth billions and expanding into film production.

Structure

1Observing the problem of expensive international calls for immigrants
2Founding Lyca Mobile to provide affordable solutions
3Achieving massive growth and revenue
4Expanding into media production with Lyca Productions

Original caption

From Refugee Family To $2B Telecom Empire: Lyca Mobile 📞🌍 #lycamobile #srilanka #immigrant #founderstory #billionaire

More from @thirdnetwork

Product placement

Lyca Mobile: ACTS - it is a prepaid telecom company that provides mobile services. It is the subject of the video. Removing it would change the video entirely. Lyca Productions: ACTS - it is a film production company that finances films. It is the subject of the video. Removing it would change the video entirely.

On-screen text

THIS SRI LANKAN REFUGEE SAW IMMIGRANTS SPENDING FORTUNES JUST TO CALL HOME. SO HE BUILT ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PREPAID TELECOM COMPANIES WORTH $2B. SUBASKARAN ALLIRAJAH WAS BORN IN SRI LANKA IN 1972. AFTER THE CIVIL WAR BROKE OUT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR BROKE OUT IN 1983. HIS FAMILY ESCAPED TO PARIS SHOP AND RESTAURANT. AS A TEENAGER, IMMIGRANTS CONSTANTLY BUYING CALLING CARDS TO PHONE HOME CHEAPLY. AFTER MOVING TO THE UK, SUBASKARAN LAUNCHED LYCA MOBILE IN 2006. LYCA LEASED NETWORK ACCESS FROM MAJOR CARRIERS AND SOLD CHEAP PREPAID SIMS AIMED AT IMMIGRANTS, DISTRIBUTED THROUGH CORNER SHOPS AND CONVENIENCE STORES BY 2016, IT HAD 15M CUSTOMERS IN 23 COUNTRIES AND OVER $2B IN REVENUE. SUBASKARAN THEN EXPANDED INTO MEDIA, LAUNCHING LYCA PRODUCTIONS, WHICH FINANCED MAJOR TAMIL FILMS AND BECAME ONE OF THE BIGGEST PRODUCTION HOUSES IN SOUTH INDIAN CINEMA.

Transcript

This Sri Lankan refugee saw immigrants spending fortunes just to call home. So he built one of the world's biggest prepaid telecom companies worth $2B. Subaskaran Allirajah was born in Sri Lanka in 1972. After the civil war broke out in 1983, his family escaped to Paris and ran a small shop and restaurant. As a teenager, he saw immigrants constantly buying calling cards to phone home cheaply. After moving to the UK, Subaskaran launched Lyca Mobile in 2006. Lyca leased network access from major carriers and sold cheap prepaid SIMs aimed at immigrants, distributed through corner shops and convenience stores. By 2016, it had 15M customers in 23 countries and over $2B in revenue. Subaskaran then expanded into media, launching Lyca Productions, which financed major Tamil films and became one of the biggest production houses in South Indian cinema.