Partnership seeks to boost television penetration

By Vision Reporter

KAMPALA - Power and Communication Systems (PCS), dealers in renewable energy supplies and AzamTV, a regional pay television service provider have entered a partnership expected to boost television penetration in areas without access to hydroelectricity.

The partnership mandates AzamTV to identify potential customers but without access to power, recommend them to PCS to acquire customised solar systems, buy television sets and get connected to the pay television technology.

According to the AzamTV Uganda country general manager Simon Arineitwe, his company has also agreed to train PCS technical personnel in satellite television systems installation, such that when customers acquire solar, television sets and pay TV kits (dishes and decoders) only one installer takes charge of installing both.

“From our field observation, it’s evident that many people can afford buying television sets, but the absence of power hinders them. We believe that if the power access challenge is dealt with, pay television will deeply penetrate far-reaching areas where we have potential customers,” he said.

He was addressing a press conference during which he announced the solar power awareness move and a one-month campaign in which the company will connect new customers to the fully installed dish-powered satellite television transmission services at charges reduced from sh250,000 down to sh145,000.

People willing to buy the systems can also be connected to financing institutions across the country for soft loans.

“The move by AzamTV to enhance access to power and pay television services is not only in Uganda, but across the whole Sub-Saharan Africa as it is meant to facilitate digital migration and reach the company’s target of attracting viewership in areas of kids shows, news, movies, soaps, sports, music, lifestyle and local free to air channels,” said Arineitwe.

Esther Mukoza, the director Uganda Renewable Energy Association, noted that the AzamTV-PCS partnership is timely as the country struggles to mitigate lack of electricity problems, yet most of those with access to hydro power are suffering from the effects of the high monthly charges.

By of THE end year 2013, Uganda’s electricity access in rural areas was 6%, against the Rural Electrification Agency’s targeted of 10% access for rural Uganda.

An estimated 90% of Ugandans live in rural areas with less than 3% electricity access.