This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 16, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd and Maxis Bhd have inked a strategic marketing partnership between both parties to offer bundled broadband with content.

In a joint statement yesterday, Astro said it will be launching new bundles of 30Mbps and 100Mbps broadband and content products for its customers and the full suite with higher broadband speeds in due course.

It said the strategic partnership is timely as it occurs at a period where demand for converged connectivity matters more than ever and multiplay propositions that bundle connectivity, content and service.

The companies said the partnership leverages both their strengths to bring greater value and benefits to their customers.

At the same time, the collaboration will create new revenue streams and unlock new markets by maximising the talent and resources at both companies, while driving scale and efficiency, they added.

Astro chief executive officer (CEO) Henry Tan said customers will see significant value and benefits from this proposition, which brings compelling content with high-speed fibre connectivity.

“The partnership will provide our customers better connected experience, especially for On Demand viewing, allowing them to enjoy over 50,000 hours via set-top boxes and on mobile devices.”

Meanwhile, Maxis CEO Gokhan Ogut said the firm is motivated by the demand for great connectivity behind its Fibrenation campaign as more and more Malaysians show themselves to be digital natives.

“We are now seeing demand for more family-oriented offerings and a wider range of digital services. This is a new era of connectivity — convergence.

“Our new partnership with Astro will give our customers another reason to choose Maxis Fibre and accelerate our convergence strategy by offering fibre to even more homes in Malaysia,” he said.