TANZANIA - The Chinese digital television in Tanzania, StarTimes International Investment Company, plans to double the number of customers from the current 100,000 to about 250,000 customers in few months to come. "The number of local customers will be fuelled by affordable subscription fees of Sh70,000 coupled with Sh9,000 monthly for accessing 36 quality channels," Star Times brand marketing director Ms Ashley Zhao told The Citizen in Dar es Salaam. According to her, the company is operating in six regions of Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Arusha, Mwanza, Tanga and Dodoma, adding that they are opening a new branch in Moshi this month and other four more branches in the next few months.

The move indicates that Tanzania is set to grapple to catch up with the June 2015 deadline which requires all television broadcasters to have concluded shifting from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting technology, a process referred to as digital migration.

Ms Zhao stated that many Tanzanians would access to their advanced technology through their integration plans put in place by hiring local staff and sharing entertainment and education through channels at affordable price.

"StarTimes is a foreign company, so we want to be good integrated within the local culture and be like a family. We want to provide products and services better in order to attract more customers and share the good things with customers," she added.

Victor Karega

The Citizen/07/06/2011