ReelShort Expanded Partnerships Across Southeast Asia
The streaming platform has partnered with four regional mobile carriers to access their established subscriber networks.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Business Strategy
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ReelShort has finalized distribution deals with Singtel, Telkomsel, Globe, and AIS to scale its mobile-first drama platform in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. These partnerships leverage the combined networks of the four operators, which represent 70% of the Southeast Asian population.
Why it matters
By integrating with established mobile carriers, ReelShort is attempting to capture high user engagement in markets where mobile-native content consumption is accelerating. The strategy aims to position the company for growth within a niche global market currently valued at US$3.6 billion.
The four operators provide access to 275 million combined mobile connections, including 150 million from Telkomsel and 47 million from AIS. The ReelShort-AIS partnership has already reached 8 million subscriptions, contributing to a sector projected to hit US$9.5 billion by 2031.
The players
ReelShort
A digital platform specializing in mobile-first vertical drama series that targets international markets.
Singtel
A major telecommunications conglomerate based in Singapore with an extensive digital service footprint.
Telkomsel
A leading Indonesian mobile network operator and a subsidiary of Telkom Indonesia.
Globe
A prominent telecommunications company providing mobile, broadband, and digital services in the Philippines.
AIS
The largest wireless operator in Thailand that provides mobile services and digital lifestyle content.
The details
ReelShort utilizes AR Global Media Network to broker agreements that embed its platform directly into the billing and delivery ecosystems of regional mobile carriers. This model allows the company to reach large, pre-existing subscriber bases in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand without needing to build independent user acquisition funnels. The partnership strategy focuses on capturing higher average revenue per user by targeting regions where mobile entertainment dominance is rapidly expanding.
Timeline
April 2026: The partnership with AIS in Thailand officially commenced.
June 2026: The agreement with Globe in the Philippines was established.
2026: ReelShort received the Gold award for Best Vertical Video Series Made in Asia at the ContentAsia Awards.
Market Landscape
ReelShort is scaling its operations to capitalize on the rapid growth of the ex-China micro-drama market, which is projected to reach US$9.5 billion by 2031. This expansion follows a pattern of platforms using carrier-led distribution to secure high user engagement in developing digital media markets.
Operators in the media and digital content space should track whether partnerships with regional carriers effectively lower customer acquisition costs compared to traditional app store marketing. Firms should evaluate if their own distribution channels offer similar access to pre-authenticated subscriber bases in emerging mobile-first markets.
The takeaway
ReelShort’s growth underscores the viability of bypassing traditional advertising funnels by embedding services directly into mobile operator billing ecosystems. Companies looking to scale internationally should prioritize alliances with large, regional telecommunications providers that can immediately provide access to millions of active, verified subscribers.
Further reading
For more on how firms navigate global growth, see our analysis on Business Strategy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Television Asia Plus.
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