Safaricom Big Box is foremost meant for those interested in Free to Air TV
Safaricom Big Box as an Internet Router
In one way you might think of Safaricom Big Box as an Internet modem. It allows access to the Internet via the SIM card option with which one can access up to 4G Internet. The Big Box also allows one to tether (share) the Internet with up to 10 devices via Wi-Fi sharing. Although not currently functional, the Big Box also comes with an Ethernet Port for LAN connection and this will allow it to access Internet in a few months/years. The device also enables one to record content and play back music/videos via the card reader and USB port. Most STBs have the video recording and USB play back options.
As you can see, the Big Box is not any typical set top box. Actually, the router/modem circuitry is an LG P700 one that powers the LG Optimus L7 P700 smartphone. The LG P700 has LG Optimus L7 P700 smartphone. The LG P700 has Qualcommon Snapdragon chipset with a CPU of 1 GHz and GPU Adreno 200.
It is therefore reasonable to buy such a device that is powered by Android Jelly Bean (though it is supposed to support the latest Android) to cost the Shs 10,000.
The fun part is that the Big Box Internet bundles are the cheapest yet. Have a look at the table below and compare them with those of Safaricom mobile Internet bundles that have the useless night shift bundles.
Because the Big Box comes with the best Internet offer yet, you can buy the big box just for your online use. Remember the big box allows you to share your Internet with up to 10 devices. For example if you buy 50 GB for Shs 4,000 a month, you can use the same Internet on your phone, laptop, PC, tablet – and even be generous to your neighbors to share a little of that. Allow me to be stereotypical – if you are from central, you can also turn it into a business opportunity.
According to those who bought the device at launch, they reported that they could hardly stay online for more than thirty minutes, and when the Internet got lost, they were forced to shut down the device from Setting Menu as the device is not capable of re-detecting the Internet on its own. The explanation is that the big box is not a mobile phone that is designed to move across several cellular transmitters but a device meant to be used in a fixed location.
However, a friend has informed me that he received a call from Bob Collymore assuring him that the Internet issues with the big box were resolved and as from today users are expected to experience seamless Internet access. According to information from another friend, the Internet experience has been indeed seamless.
The future of Safaricom big box
It is important to reiterate that the primary function of the big box as a set top box is valid today until a time Safaricom rolls out future services. In one of the dailies, Bob Collymore was quoted as saying that Safaricom will partner with content providers for premium TV provision. In this regard, we expect that in a year or two Safaricom will start offering Pay TV services most likely via the Safaricom fibre service. This should be the reason Safaricom required the big box to come with an RJ45 ethernet port.
Once Safaricom fibre arrives to homes and premium tv content is ready, expect for Safaricom to enter into stiff competition with Zuku’s Triple Play as everyone anticipated. When this time comes, Safaricom will come up with a package that allows for unlimited access to the Internet (only the fibre Internet I would bet) that will allow for viewing of premium content under affordable subscription plans.
Conclusion
There are many guys who are unsure of whether to buy the big box or not. My advice is that run and buy one, right now. You can start by using the device as an FTA channel receiver and Internet Router but when Safaricom rolls out the premium tv service via its fibre offering, you shall be ready to enjoy great content either produced by Safaricom or by third party TV content producers.