Have you bought the Safaricom Big Box? Safaricom Big Box is a Set Top Box that has Internet capabilities. As a Set Top Box, it allows a user to watch Free to Air TV channels currently being distributed by Signet and PANG. As an Internet TV Dongle (allow me to term it that way), it supports up to 4G Internet and this allows you to access online content via the TV. The Internet can also be distributed to other gadgets like phones and laptops through the WiFi Tethering that has been embedded on the Big Box.
Many were waiting for the Safaricom Big Box in anticipation that it would offer formidable competition to Zuku’s Triple Play. Thoughts were that the Big Box would offer a suitable monthly subscription plan to both Internet and premium TV content. The expectations were based on the fact that Safaricom has been rolling out its fibre infrastructure across the country faster than any other ISP, and was also said to be working on producing TV content in house.
But three weeks into launch, it is now clear that the Safaricom Big Box is basically a Set Top Box that has Internet access as a value add service, for now. In a year or two, the Internet value add might turn around to be the core service.
The Safaricom Big Box as a Set Top Box
The primary reason you should buy the Safaricom Big Box is to use it as a free to air TV channels receiver. There are many who think that the primary focus for the Big Box is the Internet offering for video streaming. If that were the case, then it will be apparent that Zuku’s Triple Play is a much better offer than the Big Box. This is because Zuku’s 10 Mbps Internet/TV/Phone offer has unlimited Internet that allows you to watch 101+ Zuku channels (actually all Zuku channels), provides you with free Zuku to Zuku calls and allows you to access free Wi-Fi across the country via the free Wi-Fi Zuku Internet hot spots and you’ll only need to part with Shs 4,300 each month.
For Safaricom to compete with the Zuku’s Triple Play option, it will need to offer unlimited Internet access. But if you consider Safaricom Big Box as a Set Top Box for free to air service, then the advantages become apparent. The Big Box can be used to watch FTA TV even without Internet.
A question you may want to ask at this point is whether it is necessary to buy the Safaricom Big Box yet you can access free to air set top boxes for Shs 3,500 or less when the Big Box goes for Shs 10,000 cash sale or Shs 11,000 at hire purchase sale. An STB for shs 3,500 and a modem for shs 2,000 sounds cheaper, right? Let’s see about that in the next page.
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kachwanya what’s your experience especially the data aspect of it?
BabaNanii_ Internet access has been problematic but the issue has since been resolved.
kachwanya I think then that’s what’s they’re really selling. Competing with Zuku. Otherwise, there’s nothing new for TV channels
BabaNanii_ There are interesting details about competition with Zuku in the article — if you have some time have a look.
kachwanya let me read it now.
kachwanya I think Zuku steal remains the better option. The unlimited access to Internet is the main thing.
BabaNanii_ When Safaricom rolls out the premium TV provision, Zuku will be in trouble
kachwanya Safcom prepared consumers for a launch of a STB that was supposed to be better than this.
BabaNanii_ I think the ability to access Internet at rate like 50 GB for shs 4K is a plus…even before unlimited Internet is introduced
kachwanya What’s your take on operators coming up with data solutions and yet the country is not well covered with at least 3G?
BabaNanii_ Affordability of data is important, even as they rollout 3G and 4G infrastructure countrywide.
kachwanya I know we need to be ahead, the reason operators are launching LTE. There are some parts of the country that 2G is even a rumor.
kachwanya I feel like as we launch LTE in major cities, we also need to address poor 2G and 3G coverage in most parts of the country.
BabaNanii_ Sure. Distribution of resources is a complex subject. It’s hard to cover places with one person per square mile popln density.
kachwanya business case: that has always been the explanation anyway. LOL. Nice article by the way. #Reviews
the biggest con job.. daily light tech robbery.. 10k so that i can spend 6GB …i can only watch 30 HD Music Videos with 6GB
For now the device is primarily a set top box
The device only worked on Monday as had been promised but it is now back to the usual sloppy internet which disconnects every other few minutes. The best advice is for people to wait for the testing period to end and for most identified issues to be resolved. I have had to take mine twice for software updates and issues still remain unresolved. If your are not in a 4G/LTE area confirm internet speeds in your area before buying