Asia’s Media & Entertainment (M&E) industry is entering a new era of transformation defined by surging demand for digital content, AI-powered workflows, and immersive audience experiences. The opportunities are immense. The Asia Pacific market alone is projected to grow from USD 1.34 trillion in 2025 to USD 1.69 trillion by 2030,while Southeast Asia is expected to reach USD 825.3 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 13.61%
But for media companies looking to expand into ASEAN or scale new formats across the region, the question isn’t just what to create, it’s how to deliver. Because behind every cinematic moment, viral stream, or interactive experience lies an invisible foundation, digital infrastructure that can handle the velocity, variety, and volatility of the region’s digital-first audiences.
This article explores the emerging infrastructure pressures media leaders face and how edge-enabled, AI-ready, and sustainability-focused platforms like TM Global are helping build what’s next in ASEAN.
The New Reality: Streaming, AI, and Scale in ASEAN
The region’s digital evolution has redefined the media business model. Viewers now spend over 48.7 minutes per online video session. Simultaneously, immersive content and real-time interactivity are reshaping production timelines, monetisation models, and compute requirements.
These shifts are converging and intensifying stress on outdated infrastructure. Media companies must now deliver ultra-responsive, hyper-personalised, immersive content at scale, while navigating region-specific challenges like fragmented networks, diverse device ecosystems, regulatory sensitivities, and unpredictable demand spikes.
Winning in ASEAN’s media market means building on infrastructure engineered for immediacy, intelligence, and impact.
1. Edge Streaming and the Latency Imperative
In the streaming age, delay is the enemy. Whether it's a live concert in Jakarta, an esports tournament in Manila, or a K-drama premiere across Malaysia and Singapore, buffering breaks engagement and revenue.
Yet many providers still rely on centralised data centres that struggle with last-mile delivery and high-throughput rendering. The challenge intensifies in ASEAN’s archipelagic and bandwidth-variable markets, where content must travel through multiple ISPs, languages, and geographies.
TM Global addresses this with edge streaming capabilities, combining Content Delivery Services (CDS), last-mile connectivity, and a robust regional IP Transit backbone to bring content closer to end-users. Its Edge Compute and Edge Gaming solutions, where cloud-based gaming content is processed closer to the player, enable seamless, lag-free gameplay and immersive experiences. These capabilities allow media and gaming brands to push workloads to the edge, achieving ultra-low latency, real-time performance, and high availability, even in rural or emerging markets.
2. The AI Workload Bottleneck
AI is the new engine of media value. From personalised content feeds to automated subtitling, from intelligent ad placement to deepfake-resistant editing, AI is rapidly reshaping how media is produced, consumed, and monetised.
But scaling AI workloads is no small task. GPU-intensive operations require massive computing density often closer to the edge for faster processing. Traditional cloud platforms lack the geographic control and responsiveness needed to meet rising content localisation and compliance needs.
According to IDC, 75% of enterprise AI workloads in Asia Pacific will run on hybrid, fit-for-purpose infrastructure by 2027, driven by a need to balance performance with regulatory alignment.
TM Global meets this demand with GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), available via sovereign-ready, energy-efficient data centres across ASEAN. This enables studios, broadcasters, and OTT platforms to train and scale AI models without investing in hardware or compromising compliance. Whether for real-time recommendation engines or generative AI content pipelines, TM Global delivers AI performance at regional speed.
3. Immersive Formats Need Immersive Infrastructure
Immersive formats, from 360° live experiences to augmented reality (AR) concerts, are no longer niche experiments. They’re becoming front-and-centre in M&E monetisation strategies, especially in Asia where mobile-first users are hungry for next-gen storytelling.
According to Grand View Research, the global immersive content creation market is expected to grow to USD 56.3 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 24.5%.
But these formats demand more than creative ambition. They require infrastructure that can handle ultra-low latency, high-throughput delivery, and real-time rendering capabilities that stretch legacy CDNs and centralised compute models.
TM Global’s Edge Compute and immersive-ready backbone are purpose-built for this world. By delivering compute power at the network edge, TM enables smoother, glitch-free AR/VR experiences. Add to that its intelligent traffic routing, failover, and multi-terabit subsea connectivity, and media brands can finally scale immersive media across fragmented ASEAN audiences without compromising experience quality.
4. Sustainable Streaming in the Spotlight
With the exponential rise of video traffic and AI processing, sustainability has become a boardroom issue for media leaders. A single hour of video content can emit up to 56g of CO₂, equivalent to driving a car for 222 metres.
Regulators, advertisers, and audiences are now demanding greener operations. Capgemini reports that 69% of global executives view stricter sustainability regulations as a top driver of their ESG initiatives.
TM Global is leading this transition with green-certified data centre , renewable energy integration, and liquid-cooling systems that reduce power consumption across high-density compute workloads. Its LEED-certified data centres, alongside efforts to decarbonise last-mile delivery, help media firms reduce emissions without sacrificing scale or speed.
Sustainable infrastructure is no longer just “good to have”, it’s a growth enabler in markets where environmental regulation is tightening fast.
Where TM Global Makes the Difference
TM Global is uniquely positioned to help Media & Entertainment companies tap into ASEAN’s booming digital economy providing infrastructure that meets the region’s distinct challenges head-on:
- GPUaaS and Edge Compute to accelerate AI and immersive content workflows
- Edge Gaming and Content Delivery Services to reduce latency and enhance engagement
- Sovereign-ready data centres for regulatory confidence
- Last-mile solutions and high-capacity IP Transit for borderless, seamless delivery
- Sustainability-first infrastructure for long-term growth
Whether you’re a regional broadcaster scaling up, a global OTT entering Southeast Asia, or a studio experimenting with next-gen formats, TM Global offers the platform to perform and grow.
Final Word: The Infrastructure Behind Every Great Story
The future of media in ASEAN won’t just be written in scripts it will be coded into infrastructure. Every creative breakthrough now depends on real-time delivery, intelligent processing, and sustainability at scale.
The winners of this next wave won’t be the ones with the biggest libraries but those with the infrastructure to bring stories to life, instantly, intelligently, and responsibly.
Ready to power what’s next in media?
Let TM Global help you build the foundation.
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