China-based pay television firm StarTimes has launched affordable set-top boxes in Uganda, which is aimed at encouraging Ugandans to switch to digital television before the 30 June 2015 deadline
According to the television firm, the set-top box known as StarTimes Light is available at a market price of US$2.8 in the country.
Customers would be required to pay an initial subscription fee of US$14.5, which entitles them to seven months of digital television services, added StarTimes.
Aldrine Nsubuga, marketing director of StarTimes, said that the move sought to increase affordability and enable more Ugandans to enjoy digital pay television.
“We want Ugandans to make an early decision to go digital to avoid last-minute rush. Imagine all those people without set-top boxes lining up to them on the last day," Nsubuga noted.
Christine Nagujja, public relations officer of StarTimes, said that the digital broadcasting is expected to offer television viewers better quality pictures, improve television reception signals and also free the spectrum for other users. “It is estimated that although there are about five million television sets in Uganda, only a handful use pay television services. This has been attributed to the high initial access cost for pay television services,” she added.
Although there are about five million television sets in Uganda, only about 300,000 are digital, revealed Nagujja.
