ZUKU ASSAULT: SAFARICOM'S BIGBOX DECODER TO COST SH9,999 OFFER 6GB DATA

Safaricom will tomorrow launch its BigBox decoder at a one-off cost of Sh9,999 or Sh4,999 followed by 6-monthly payments of Sh999. Bundles will be reloaded using a *422 Hash short code.

After releasing its results today which show it still lags far behind Zuku in fixed data numbers, Safaricom is laying its biggest assault yet on its rival with this decoder that will come with a 3G/4G SIM card and a cheaper data plan for buying bundles, internal documents show.

The launch will take place at the Safaricom Shop at Sarit Centre.

Riding on Android software, the BigBox will be a wi-fi hotspot that supports up to 10 users according to the company.

It will offer three free months of youtube streaming via the youtube URL www.youtube.com. However, the company is not immediately able to offer On Demand streaming.

The box comes with a USB & SD card media playback for videos, a TV recording feature and a free HDMI cable.

It will have 35 Free to Air TV and Radio channels.

These channels offered most likely through Bamba TV will be:

NTV	KTN	CITIZEN
KISS	QTV	K24
KASS	3STONES	GOR
FOUNTAIN	EXPRESS	YOUTH
EATV	VISION	BUNGE
EDUCATION	MOTHER AND CHILD	AVIATION
GBS	REVIVAL	SAYARE
FAMILY	JOY	KINGDOM
AATV	ADVENTIST	LAKE VICTORIA
PROPERTY	HOPE	HERITAGE
UNJIRU	TCBN	ELIMU
GETV	HORIZON

Sh999 will buy you 6GB of data valid for 30 days.
Sh1500 = 10GB
Sh2000 = 20GB
Sh4000 = 50GB

The boxes will only be sold in Safaricom shops.

It certainly looks to give Zuku a run for its money especially if the internet is reliable and fast.

One Zuku user said he would definitely buy it saying Zuku had given him poor data service.

"If they bring it I will buy it. I'm tired of Zuku. The other time I went six days without internet and when you call them, they say We cannot detect the problem on our side if we do we will let you know," he fumed.

"Then when your subscription lapses, they are very fast to alert you, Dear Customer, please update blah blah," the disgruntled user continued.

Safaricom's box seems certainly a play for home internet particularly given the rollout of its 4G/LTE Service.

While the head to head competition with Zuku seems clear, the play for market leader GOtv's turf seems less clear.

The content is less appealing and the monthly bundle recharge at Sh999 entry price is higher than GOtv's monthly subscription price of Sh849.

Startime which has been accused of having less appealing content is said to be working on revamping its content offering.