Safaricom has unveiled android powered TV box that’s expected to expand its home fibre services to more homes. The android box can enable TV’s to stream content from Netflix, YouTube, ShowMax, Hulu, Sling amongst other android TV applications. In addition, users will be able to wirelessly project their smartphones as well as laptops to their TV sets through screen casting.
Speaking on the launch, Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa said the Home Fibre service had been well received thanks to its unlimited internet connectivity for families in an affordable, monthly package. Ndegwa further acknowledged that the TV remained central to home entertainment and due to lack of a feature that would directly stream content from the internet most potential families had stayed away from the service. Thanks to the latest launch, Safaricom will now be able to empower homes to connect any TV to the internet opening up endless entertainment options for family, Ndegwa stated.
Customers can purchase the Android TV box from Safaricom shops as well as on Masoko for Ksh. 6,999 with no hidden monthly costs. Connecting the box to your TV shouldn’t be an issue as no technical skills are required and is plug and play. You’ll therefore not require a technician for the exercise. The box can support video resolutions of up to 4K.
Since the Ematic DV8235 runs on android OS, users can easily initiate several actions by voice commands including searching for shows, movies or apps. Additionally, it can be configured to connect to a Home Fibre WiFi network. Users will also be able to play recorded movies, TV shows as well as photos through USB flash disks and MicroSD Memory Cards.
According to reports, the telco had seen an upsurge in demand of home fibre services and had responded by acquiring more personnel as well as expanding its home fibre services to more areas. Kenyans can opt in for the Safaricom’s internet service by dialing *400# and subscribe to any of the three packages including Bronze, Silver and Diamond tailored to support light, medium and heavy usage respectively.
Safaricom android TV box specifications – Ematic DV8235
- Android TV version: (9.0)
- Certification: Google and Netflix
- Video Resolution: 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(L*W*H) – 100mm*100mm*23.5mm
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/b/g/n
- 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
