The 335,000 residents of Vanuatu will soon be targeted by mobile gaming and entertainment company Streamplay Studio (ASX: SP8) which has expanded into the island nation through its strategic partnership with Digicel Pacific, the largest telecommunications provider in the region. 

The expansion will include marketing Streamplay’s competitive casual gaming and esports technology, music streaming services, and telco value-added services. It also aims to introduce Streamplay’s premium services, mJams Music and mGames, to the eager gaming and music-loving audience in Vanuatu. 

Formerly known as Emerge Gaming before rebranding to shed some historical controversies surrounding the Company, Streamplay has now turned its attention to the Asia Pacific region. 

Vanuatu, with its approximate population of 335,000, boasts a mobile penetration rate of about 103% and an internet penetration rate of around 33%. 

The marketing and rollout plan for this partnership is a phased approach with a launch firstly in Fiji in the coming weeks and then Vanuatu scheduled to follow. The introduction will begin with mJams Music, followed by mGames as a strategic approach by Streamplay that will ensure a smooth integration of these services into the local markets.

A unique aspect of Streamplay’s plan is the active collaboration with local musicians and artists. The company will offer them a dedicated space on the mJams Music platform to share their music with a broader audience, both in Vanuatu and across the entire Pacific region. Furthermore, Streamplay will provide support for these local artists through various marketing initiatives to enhance their visibility and reach.

In a bid to foster local talent, Streamplay will be calling for local content creators to join them to gain access to a powerful distribution channel, promotional support, and the opportunity to showcase their unique talents on a wider regional stage.

Bert Mondello, Chairman of Streamplay Studio said, “This marks another significant milestone in our partnership with Digicel Pacific as we tap into the vibrant and growing digital entertainment market in Vanuatu.

“We are thrilled to announce the introduction of competitive esports gaming, music streaming, and VAS as part of our offerings, enhancing the digital entertainment experience for our Pacific market customers. 

“We eagerly anticipate our ongoing collaboration with Digicel and our expansion into the broader Pacific region.”

Digicel Pacific, a telecommunications provider operating in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Fiji, is a core business within Digicel which employs more than 1,700 people throughout its telecommunications network. 

For FY23, Steamplay Studio reported $1.76 million revenue with a net loss after tax of $3.5 million. The Company recently pocketed $2.5 million from the sale of Miggster in a deal that fell through and has led to Streamplay recovering its IP.