Safaricom unveils product, targets fibre to the home market
By Noel Wandera, July 10, 2020
DATA: Safaricom yesterday launched an Android TV Box as part of a strategy to bring its Home Fibre service to more homes and enable it to tap into the ever-growing demand for data in the country.
It also enables customers to wirelessly project their smartphone and laptop screens to the TV through screen casting.
“Our Home Fibre service has been well received as it offers unlimited internet connectivity for the entire family in an affordable, monthly package,” said chief executive officer Peter Ndegwa.
The TV Box will retail at Sh6,999 and equips any TV with the capability to stream content from Android TV applications like YouTube, Netflix, ShowMax, Hulu, Sling.
Apart from the latest product offer, Safaricom also has a 4G for home dongle which enables users not served by their fibre optic cables to enjoy the Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) experience.
Data has become key, as the country emerges from a Covid-19 induced lockdown in a new normal that has seen emergence of opportunities in the education, entertainment and work environment from where Safaricom is keen to exploit.
The latest offer is a statement of intent by Safaricom to slice the FTTH market share, currently controlled by Wananchi Group (K) Ltd and Jamii telecommunications Ltd.
It also challenges DSTV and StarTimes Media’s dominance on Kenya’s entertainment scene, made popular through airing of European top League matches and Mexican soap operas respectively.
With 175,433 subscribers, Wananchi controls the segment at 35 per cent, followed by Jamii at 33.1 per cent from 165,810 subscribers.
Safaricom comes in third at 15.6 per cent from 78,149 subscribers, according to industry figures from Communications Authority of Kenya.
But according to StarTimes Regional Marketing Director Aldrine Nsubuga, the Safaricom business proposition will not have an impact on the firm, as proposal appeals to Kenyans through premium content.
“From the cost of set top boxes which currently stands at Sh1,499 to the monthly subscriptions at a maximum of Sh799 per month, we can only foresee increased consumer confidence in our products and services,” he said.
The firm , he said will continue to invest in the latest broadcast technology and premium contents for subscribers which sets us apart from other platforms.