StarTimes Involves Locals To Push For Digital Migration

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StarTimes one of the leading players in the Pay TV industry have bridged and increased the digital migration sensitization with boda- boda cyclists who total to up to 50,000 under their association Kampala Metropolitan Boda-Boda Association (KAMBA).

Aldrine Nsubuga (R), StarTimes Marketing Director demonstrates to Bodaboda cyclists in Makindye Division (Photo by Moses Ssemakula)

According to Aldrine Nsubuga (Snr) the Marketing Director at Start Times, the most important groups of people in Uganda have been left out in this campaign yet they carry a big percentage including the boda boda cyclists.

It is estimated that although there are about 5 million television sets in Uganda, just a handful use pay-TV, which has been attributed to the high initial access cost.

The charge for installing pay-TV that uses a dish, for instance, ranges from UGX 120,000 to UGX 300,000 depending on the service provider.

Digital terrestrial transmission, via aerial, costs between UGX 65,000 and UGX 80,000 for installation.

This is in addition to the monthly subscription charges that range between UGX 25,000 and UGX 250,000, which is too expensive in Uganda, where about 20 percent of people live on less than a dollar a day.

“As we struggle to see that all Ugandans are connected to the digital platform, the gadgets have become more expensive to low income earners. This has resulted into less response to the entire activity. But we are playing our roles with cheap decoders coupled with affordable monthly subscription charges,” explained Nsubuga.

The Uganda Communications Commission set June 30th 2015 as the deadline for digital migration and to effect this, all TV sets receiving pictures and sound using the analogue technology will not be able to function without the support of either a decoder being provided by pay television service providers or a set top box being provided by Uganda Communications Commission.

John Ssemuju, the Chairperson o f KAMBA said the new partnership with the giant player will close the gaps that have been experienced by the cyclists adding that other players should copy StarTimes role if the digital migration goals and objectives are to be achieved.

“The decoders will be available in any of our six division offices therefore our members and customers can buy these gadgets. We have been trained by StarTimes so we can offer consultation and other services to our members.” Ssemuju said.