Several telecom service providers and data center providers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)* region have come together to form an alliance, ASEANConnect.One. The group's goal is to provide connectivity services to data centers and over-the-top (OTT) players in the region.
Alliance members will combine their resources to provide a one-stop shop for connectivity, single-end billing and unified operational processes, which they believe will reduce installation and maintenance time. ASEANConnect.One is aiming to have over 1,500 clients by Q2 2025.
ASEANConnect.One plans to improve regional connectivity and “streamline carrier and OTT experiences with more than 10,000 kilometers of network spanning from Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia,” the group said in a press release.
“Our resources and expertise are pooled to offer faster and more convenient services," the release stated. "Operations are managed locally by respective stakeholders, ensuring efficiency. Through AseanConnect.One, expansion plans include a gradual volume increase in the future."
Companies that have joined the alliance include SEAX Global, Telin, APT Satellite, Neocom ISP, NTC Asia and Interlink Telecom, among others.
While APT Satellite is a satellite operator in the Asia Pacific, provider FPT International Telecom (FTI) is a telecom provider in Vietnam. Interlink Telecom Public Company provides telecom services through a nationwide fiber optic network in Thailand, and Neocom is a Cambodia-based internet service provider (ISP). Other partners include NTC Asia, a Hong Kong-based international connectivity provider, and SEAX Global, a neutral wholesale connectivity solutions provider.
“The alliance will provide clients a standardized suite of services, ensuring reliability, scalability and efficiency in connectivity and data center management solutions,” the release said.
Why is this significant?
The post-COVID era has not only accelerated the digital transformation of enterprises, it also led to an exponential increase in the region’s digital economy. According to the e-Conomy SEA 2022 report released by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company, Southeast Asia’s digital economy can potentially reach $1 trillion by 2030. The growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)- based solutions will only add fuel to the region’s digital economy.
Significantly, youth comprise around a third of the combined population of the ASEAN region. This young population is projected to peak at over 220 million by 2038. This means that the region is likely to maintain the growth momentum over the next few years as the young population is likely to lead to a faster adoption of new technologies.
The alliance is significant because a growing number of hyperscalers, over-the-top (OTT) players and enterprises have multi-country operations in the region. The availability of a single connectivity provider with a presence in several countries in the region promises to help them enhance operational efficiency. This way, they not only stand to get better rates but also avoid working with different connectivity providers in different countries.
* ASEAN is a group of ten countries, Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.