Safaricom gets green light for broadcast channels

Kenya’s Communications Authority has approved local telecom provider Safaricom’s application for licences to broadcast four TV channels, allowing the operator to create its own content for the IPTV service it launched in May, according to local reports.

Safaricom’s broadcast licences will enable it to distribute content both over-the-air and online, as well as to compete with existing pay TV and multi-play operators, including Wananchi’s Zuku TV service.

Safaricom began marketing an IP-enabled set-top, the BigBox, for KES10,000 (€88) plus a KES4,000 monthly fee for TV and 4G-enabled broadband services in May, with limited success.