This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On July 8, 2020, Safaricom announced the launch of a new Android TV streaming box, available on Masoko for KES 6,999.
The new box, branded as the Ematic Box, is a departure from Safaricom's previous Big Box 2, which supported SIM cards and free-to-air channels. In contrast, the Ematic Box does not support SIM cards, but it does support the certified Netflix app and can be connected to any display.
The Ematic Box runs on Android TV 9 and features a range of specifications, including a quad-core ARM Cortex A53 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of eMMC storage. It also includes a remote with voice search, Bluetooth 4.2, and dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/b/g/n.
The box's port selection is a notable feature, with two USB 2.0 ports, a MicroSD card reader, an HDMI 2.0a port, and a 10/100 Ethernet (RJ45) port. This allows users to connect external hard drives, accessories, and display devices.
According to Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, the Home Fibre service has been well-received, offering unlimited internet connectivity for families. The Android TV Box now empowers customers to connect any TV to the internet, opening up a world of endless entertainment options.
The introduction of the Android TV Box is seen as a move to ease the transition of homes to online entertainment, helping them keep up with their favourite TV channels online. The new box competes directly with the Mi Box S from Xiaomi, but with more ports, which could be more useful to more people.
