Safaricom Set Top Box

Safaricom Set top Box Review

Safaricom has officially launched the long awaited ''Big Box'' set top box which is retailing at Ksh 9,999. Safaricom has diversified into Tv content creation and they are targeting millions of subscribers countrywide and therefore bringing healthier competitions which will benefit Kenyans. Safaricom aims at increasing the use of data needed to access decoder services.

The Safaricom set top box will enable subscribers to access over 30 free to air TV channels in Kenya as well as 3G and 4G internet.

Users will be required to buy data bundles that are charged at standard prices in order to access Tv and internet. With the Safaricom set top box, you will be able to access Wifi hotspot after purchasing your data bundles. The WiFi hotspot can serve upto ten users.

The following are the data bundles on offer for the Big Box monthly:

* 6 GB :- Ksh 999
* 10 GB :– Ksh 1,500
* 20 GB :– Ksh 2,000
* 50 GB :– Ksh 4,000

You can buy data bundles on your decoder using the following ways.

* Dialing * 422 # from your mobile phone and enter the decoder number after which you’ll be prompted to select your preferred bundle.
* Using M-PESA by dialling * 422 # from the mobile phone number used to register the decoder upon purchase, enter the decoder number, select the preferred data bundle, enter the PIN and you’ll get the relevant notifications.
* Online purchase. Through your computer, smartphone or tablet by visiting www.safaricom.com.
* Directly from the Box decoder itself. From the decoder’s internet home page, select the ‘My Account’ icon on the applications menu, go to TV option and choose preferred data bundle.

The 'Big Box' operates on android platform and you can download, install and run android apps on the set top box.
It has just 1 GB RAM and 4 GB internal storage which can be expanded to 32 GB using a micro SD card or a USB flash drive.

With the Safaricom set top box, you can play content stored on external storage media using the iMedia Player application. The box streams high definition content and you can't worry about quality because the box has that quality you have been looking for. At the back of the box, there is a HDMI port which comes with a HDMI cable. The box also has an ethernet port that can enable you connect to a wired network setup.
Safaricom will be giving buyers of the Big Box free 6 GB data per month for 6 months and 3 months free YouTube.The Safaricom Big Box will cost Ksh 9,999. That’s a one-off fee and buyers of the Big Box won’t pay anything else after that unless it is data bundles they are buying which is something different. You can also get it at Ksh 4,999 through the Easy Pay Plan after which you’ll be required to pay Ksh 999 installments monthly for six months.

Summary of Safaricom set top box features

* 3G/4G Internet browsing capabilities.
* Internet hotspot (Wi-Fi) creation that supports upto 10 devices.
* YouTube streaming,
* 30 + Free To Air Channels (FTA)
* USB and SD media playback for pictures, music and videos plus TV recording capabilities.
* High speed internet access.
* Free YouTube streaming for the first 3months.
* All your favorite TV Channels (Citizen, NTV, KTN, KBC, K24 etc) plus much more
* USB/SD card Media playback¿ For videos, music and photo.
* PVR/TV recording feature

Safaricom Set top box is more than a set top box. It brings you to a new digital world and you should be the first one to grab this 'Big Box'. Visit your nearest shop and buy your Safaricom set top box at only Ksh. 9,999.