🔄 Last update on August 1st, 2025
Gaming Hubs: The Next Frontier for Telco Innovation
Gaming hubs are no longer just marketplaces for mobile or console games—they are vibrant digital communities. Players use them to discover new content, watch esports, connect socially, and access exclusive experiences. For telcos, launching a white-label gaming hub can offer a tailored way to deliver added value through exclusive content, promotions, and loyalty incentives.
“In a gaming hub, telcos are looking for four things: 1. a flexible solution that adapts to their specific needs, 2. a strong content proposition with big titles, 3. some kind of exclusivity regarding configuration or content and 4. a service with gamification to engage and retain users”.
Paola Caretti (Senior Manager for White Label Solutions and Go-To-Market)
With mobile gamers expected to reach 2.5 billion users by 2030 (26.6% of user penetration in 2025) (Statista), and time spent on mobile games continuing to grow, telcos have a clear opportunity to meet rising demand with seamless, low-latency gaming experiences backed by robust infrastructure and 5G connectivity.
From Connectivity to Content: How Telcos Are Rewriting the Rules
Telcos traditionally operated behind the scenes—powering connectivity but leaving content to others. Today, gaming hubs allow them to step into a central, visible role in the entertainment value chain. By aggregating top-tier content and offering it through convenient subscription or freemium models, telcos can elevate their brand relevance and customer lifetime value.
“The gaming hub concept takes on the true meaning of an aggregator of services and content, covering the wide spectrum of typologies that the market represents, to create a value proposition for telcos. From PC players to casual mobile gamers, early adopters of cloud gaming solutions or esport lovers, this premium content becomes accessible through a convenient subscription model”.
Enrique Galán (Product & License Manager at Digital Virgo)
Levelling Up with Esports: A Billion-Dollar Opportunity
Esports have evolved into a multibillion-dollar global industry, expected to surpass 5 bilion by 2026 (Statista). Gaming hubs offer telcos a gateway into this space by hosting or streaming tournaments, featuring exclusive esports content, or partnering with popular teams and influencers.
Such initiatives boost brand exposure, attract younger demographics, and create meaningful engagement opportunities across platforms.
Game On: Monetization Models That Actually Work
Telcos can monetize gaming hubs through multiple revenue models—subscriptions, in-app purchases, advertising, and pay-per-access to premium content. Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) is a critical enabler here, offering frictionless payments for gamers who prefer quick, in-game purchases without leaving the app.
DCB simplifies transactions by auto-detecting the user’s phone number, allowing for one-tap confirmations. This ease of use supports increased spending while reinforcing the telco’s role in the user’s gaming journey.
According to Juniper Research, 51.4% of all Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) spend comes from mobile gaming—highlighting the vertical’s strategic importance and reinforcing DCB as a key lever for telcos to scale revenue and build customer loyalty.
Why Every Telco Needs a Gaming Hub in 2025
Gaming hubs are no longer optional—they’re a strategic imperative. They allow telcos to diversify revenue, meet the expectations of digitally native consumers, and strengthen their role in the rapidly evolving entertainment economy.
With the right partner, telcos can quickly deploy a branded, scalable gaming hub solution that offers premium content, seamless payments, and unique engagement opportunities.
Ready to unlock new revenue streams with your own Gaming Hub? Contact us today to discover how Digital Virgo can help you lead in the next era of gaming innovation.
