This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On July 8, 2020, Safaricom announced the launch of an Android TV Box as part of its strategy to expand its Home Fibre service to more homes.
The Android TV Box allows customers to stream content from popular services like YouTube, Netflix, ShowMax, Hulu, Sling, and other Android TV Applications, making it a convenient option for those looking to upgrade their home entertainment experience.
According to Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, the Home Fibre service has been well-received, offering unlimited internet connectivity for the entire family at an affordable monthly package. The Android TV Box empowers customers to connect any TV to the internet, opening up a world of endless entertainment options for the family.
The Android TV Box is available at Safaricom Shops and on Masoko for a KES. 6,999 offer with no monthly costs. It is a 'plug and play' device, making it easy for customers to connect it to their TVs and Home WiFi network without the need for a technician. The box can support up to 4K HD resolution, providing viewers with super-clear video clarity.
Customers can use their voice to perform different functions on the TV Box, such as searching for shows, movies, or apps. The device can also be configured to connect to a Home Fibre WiFi network and supports playing back of recorded movies, TV shows, and photos through USB flash disks and MicroSD Memory Cards.
With the introduction of the Android TV Box, Safaricom aims to ease the transition of homes to online entertainment, helping them keep up with their favourite TV channels online. The Home Fibre service remains available to more on 400# with three distinct packages dubbed Bronze, Silver, and Diamond tailored to support light, medium, and heavy usage respectively.
Technical specifications of the Ematic DV8235 Android TV Box include Android TV OS (9.0), Google and Netflix Certified, 4K (Ultra HD), SoC: Amlogic S905X: A quad core ARM Cortex A53, CPU: ARM Quad 64-bit Cortex-A53 up to 1.5GHz, GPU: Penta Core Mali-450 up to 750MHz +(DFS), DRAM: DDR3 2GB, Flash: eMMC 8GB, Bluetooth 4.2, DRM – Playready, Widevine, Size(LWH) – 100mm100mm23.5mm, Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/b/g/n, and Interfaces / Ports: 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 X TF (MicroSD) card slot, 1 X HDMI 2.0a port, 1 x 10/100 Ethernet (RJ45) port.
