There is no doubt that the telecommunication sector in Southeast Asia is changing rapidly. For instance, the average revenue per user from voice calls decreased significantly while mobile data usage, which is used for social media, music streaming, video, and others, increases significantly as market research Southeast Asia has shown.
There are various factors contributing to the changes. Among these factors are the fact that consumers in Southeast Asia are becoming more affluent. The age of the population is also a contributing factor as more than half the population is aged 45 or below. Below, we will tell you some of the changes in the telecommunication sector.
More Demand for Digital Services
As the population gets more digitized, so is the mode of communications. Earlier we mentioned that the average revenue per user from voice calls is falling. The cause of this change is the appearance of digital alternatives, which is based on mobile data. The same goes for messaging too as more and more people are using data-driven digital alternatives.
Globally, social media penetration average is 32%. In Southeast Asia, the average is 55%, which means more than half of the population uses social media. As the rate of internet penetration increases, so is the demand for mobile data. The compound annual growth rate for mobile data is expected to grow significantly in the foreseeable future.
Increasing Video on Demand
Over the top service providers which distribute streaming media is replacing subscription-based fixed cable television as the number of users of the former is increasing while the latter decreases. There is also increased interest in Southeast Asians for the competitive online gaming industry. Consequently, there is more demand for bandwidth which telecommunication providers have to meet.
In Southeast Asia, smartphones and live TV are two of the highest video viewing shares according to market research Southeast Asia. The shares, especially smartphone shares, are going to increase significantly in the future as the region has a young population driving the consumption demand. This increase of video on demand provides an opportunity telecommunication players can take advantage of.
Introduction of eSIM
Recently, embedded SIM or eSIM is released and quickly gains popularity. With eSIM, a user only has to make a call when they want to change operators instead of changing the SIM card physically. This, coupled with the aggressive introduction of eSIM-compatible devices, it is likely that the technology will be popular in the next few years.
Stringent Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) Regulations
As cybersecurity concern increases, most Southeast Asian countries are introducing stringent eKYC regulations. Most eKYC regulations deal with biometric data, which when captured becomes a cost to the operator. Such sensitive data can be turned into a lucrative stream of revenue provided that the data is in the right hands where it is safely and securely used.
Closing
As we mentioned in the beginning, the telecommunication sector in Southeast Asia is changing rapidly. Market research Southeast Asia shows that this trend is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. If anything, the trend will continue as more and more people become affluent with digital telecommunication and related technology. This, in turn, will change the region’s telecommunication ecosystem.
