Credit: Singtel/SK Telecom
- Singtel and SK Telecom sign memorandum of understanding to “cooperate and leverage each other’s assets and capabilities” in an effort to grow the esports and gaming industries in Asia.
- Both brands hope the partnership increase their reach and brand recognition in Southeast Asia and South Korea.
- The partnership comes four months after Singtel signed a similar agreement with its own subsidiaries and affiliates in Southeast Asia, Australia, and India.
Singtel, the largest mobile network operator in Singapore, and South Korea’s SK Telecom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to “cooperate and leverage each other’s assets and capabilities” in an effort to grow the esports and gaming industries in Asia. The companies will aim to make original and third-party content, and provide services tailored directly for gamers.
“SK Telecom is synonymous with gaming and has been a leader in the industry since the beginning. They have a wealth of experience and one of the most recognizable esports teams and personalities in the world today,” said Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel’s International Group. “Coupled with the Singtel Group’s deep local knowledge, telco assets and reach to over 675 million customers in the region, of which almost a third are gamers, we have the synergies and opportunity to really grow and develop the gaming ecosystem for gamers in Asia. I am very excited about this partnership and looking forward to working together to delight the gaming community in the region.”
Singtel had already signed an esports focused MoU with its own subsidiaries and affiliates in October 2018, with the similar goal of growing the esports ecosystem, along with hosting the PVP Esports Championship, a $300K USD international esports tournament.
Related Article: Singtel Group Signs Memorandum of Understanding to Grow Southeast Asian Esports
The SK Telecom brand has been synonymous with Korean esports for some time now, with its League of Legends team, SK Telecom T1, winning the World Championship three times and earning over $5M in prize money. It has also operated its own game portal service since 2009 which hosts over 35M users.
“Singtel is one of the world’s leading telcos, with a strong presence in Asia. They have been strengthening their competitiveness in the gaming sector through numerous initiatives such as their PVP Esports Championship,” said Chief Strategy Officer of SK Telecom Peter Ha. “SK Telecom is South Korea’s largest telco with an abundance of experience, technology, and infrastructure in gaming distribution and operation. Together we will be able to provide gamers in Asia with quality content and services, giving gaming a boost in the region and pushing it further into the mainstream.”
