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WhEN compared with well-known Chinese household brands such as huawei and ZtE, Startimes has kept somewhat of a low profile. Yet, the company has been in operation for over 20 years in China, making it the most influential digital tV technology provider in the country. Currently preparing to expand to the Beijing Economic-technological Development Area in east Beijing, the company’s new property will cover a massive 60,000 square meters of office space. But besides its influence at home, Startimes also operates a variety of integrated services in more than 10 African countries, such as Nigeria, tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique, providing digital tV and mobile tV.
Pang Xinxing, President of Startimes Group, comes across as modest and hard-working. however, he seems to break out of his shell as he explains their overseas operations in Africa, the most vital part of the company’s development strategy. Pang disagreed with the statement that“Africa is a backward continent.”
“in my opinion, it is a continent with breathtaking landscape, stable economy and simple folkway,” he said. “And a continent that offers good opportunities to invest.”
in recent years, an increasing number of Chinese companies have been eyeing Africa as an ideal place for investment, as China encourages its companies to globalize. China’s investment in Africa has been mainly distributed in the service, manufacturing, construction and infrastructure sectors. There has not been much emphasis on the radio and television industries.
“Our vision is to enable every African household to get access to digital tV, afford digital tV, watch good digital tV, and enjoy digital tV,”Pang proudly told ChinAfrica.
Already a household name in East Africa, it started its business operations in Rwanda in 2008, and then expanded to Nigeria in 2009. That same year, tanzania, Burundi and some other countries joined the network. So far, Startimes’ digital television service has over 900,000 subscribers in the continent.
Accessible and affordable
in Africa, Startimes has adopted Digital television (DtV) technology to establish a multi-fre- quency and multi-channel digital wireless tV transmission platform. it operates pay tV and mobile tV services, sells terminal products and provides signal transmission services for public and commercial tV stations.
Africa’s geographical conditions had made it difficult for Startimes to build a cable television network. Pang and his team therefore chose wireless technology that enjoys advantages over cable, in that it is cost effective, and covers a wider range of areas without the limitation of geographical conditions.
Besides, relatively weak purchasing power and different digital television standards, developed or adopted in different regions, are hampering Africa’s migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television. This poses a challenge for Startimes to promote digital tV in Africa, but Pang believes that this challenge means not only hardship, but also opportunity.
Data has proven its progress in the development of digital tV. Startimes is doing well in Nigeria, as it signed up about 200,000 new subscribers within just nine months since trial operations in the country began in April 2010.
Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Engineer Yomi Bolarinwa, said that the partnership between the Nigerian television Authority and Startimes has ushered digital technology into the Nigerian broadcasting system. it is now a key to the country’s socioeconomic development.
its high audio-visual quality and excellent service has also been warmly welcomed in other African countries. “Startimes set-top box is cheap [unlike its counterparts in the market],” said Mary, a digital tV user from Rwanda at the Startimes’ DtV Experience Center who declined to give her surname. “it is durable and gives clear signals. it has dozens of interesting channels, and it is relatively easy to install.”
“A new technology has its value only when it becomes popularized,” said Pang.
“Our [digital pay tV] price certainly should not be too high if we want every African household to afford digital tV. There is now an increasing demand [in this regard] from the African consumers that we should consider, and we should keep trying to meet them,” he added.
According to Startimes, its channels are carefully selected for the different needs of users, such as new documentaries, live sports, entertainment, kids and education. Beefing up its own digital sports programming, Startimes won the 2012-15 free-to-air media rights for the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Hi-tech inroads
While offering cheaper packages than its rivals, and tailoring contents to appeal to customers, the company is taking initiatives to spread its operation all over the continent. For example, in Nigeria, Startimes services are available in cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port harcourt, Kano and ibadan. Beyond Nigeria, they can be accessed in over 10 African countries, where the company has established business halls and developed dealers, giving more customers a chance to enjoy quality information, education and entertainment at an affordable price.
Being a privately owned Chinese company, Startimes has achieved very good results in the overseas market. in 2011, their business operation in Africa had occupied a large portion of the company’s overall revenue.
Apart from offering a competitive price package, Pang added that Startimes’ investment has improved Africa’s radio and television infrastructure, and has put forward its migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television. it is also in line with the core strategies of the company’s overseas operation.
“We bring in investment, technology and management experience,” he said. “Those bring multiple benefits [to the continent], generating local employment, contributing tax revenues, and providing more choices for local people.”
Big vision
Still a young company that is only in its 20s, Startimes has grown to be a mature business. From initially being a system integrator and technology provider that transcended into a network operator, it is now moving toward being an influential global media group. When it comes to potential subscribers for Startimies’digital pay tV in Africa, Pang hopes half of the African population can enjoy their services over next five years.
The entrepreneur’s confidence is not groundless. Startimes expects to sign up 10 million digital pay tV customers and 16 million mobile users in Africa in the following three to five years. Pang’s hopes and expectations will likely become a reality soon.
Pang Xinxing, President of Startimes Group, comes across as modest and hard-working. however, he seems to break out of his shell as he explains their overseas operations in Africa, the most vital part of the company’s development strategy. Pang disagreed with the statement that“Africa is a backward continent.”
“in my opinion, it is a continent with breathtaking landscape, stable economy and simple folkway,” he said. “And a continent that offers good opportunities to invest.”
in recent years, an increasing number of Chinese companies have been eyeing Africa as an ideal place for investment, as China encourages its companies to globalize. China’s investment in Africa has been mainly distributed in the service, manufacturing, construction and infrastructure sectors. There has not been much emphasis on the radio and television industries.
“Our vision is to enable every African household to get access to digital tV, afford digital tV, watch good digital tV, and enjoy digital tV,”Pang proudly told ChinAfrica.
Already a household name in East Africa, it started its business operations in Rwanda in 2008, and then expanded to Nigeria in 2009. That same year, tanzania, Burundi and some other countries joined the network. So far, Startimes’ digital television service has over 900,000 subscribers in the continent.
Accessible and affordable
in Africa, Startimes has adopted Digital television (DtV) technology to establish a multi-fre- quency and multi-channel digital wireless tV transmission platform. it operates pay tV and mobile tV services, sells terminal products and provides signal transmission services for public and commercial tV stations.
Africa’s geographical conditions had made it difficult for Startimes to build a cable television network. Pang and his team therefore chose wireless technology that enjoys advantages over cable, in that it is cost effective, and covers a wider range of areas without the limitation of geographical conditions.
Besides, relatively weak purchasing power and different digital television standards, developed or adopted in different regions, are hampering Africa’s migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television. This poses a challenge for Startimes to promote digital tV in Africa, but Pang believes that this challenge means not only hardship, but also opportunity.
Data has proven its progress in the development of digital tV. Startimes is doing well in Nigeria, as it signed up about 200,000 new subscribers within just nine months since trial operations in the country began in April 2010.
Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Engineer Yomi Bolarinwa, said that the partnership between the Nigerian television Authority and Startimes has ushered digital technology into the Nigerian broadcasting system. it is now a key to the country’s socioeconomic development.
its high audio-visual quality and excellent service has also been warmly welcomed in other African countries. “Startimes set-top box is cheap [unlike its counterparts in the market],” said Mary, a digital tV user from Rwanda at the Startimes’ DtV Experience Center who declined to give her surname. “it is durable and gives clear signals. it has dozens of interesting channels, and it is relatively easy to install.”
“A new technology has its value only when it becomes popularized,” said Pang.
“Our [digital pay tV] price certainly should not be too high if we want every African household to afford digital tV. There is now an increasing demand [in this regard] from the African consumers that we should consider, and we should keep trying to meet them,” he added.
According to Startimes, its channels are carefully selected for the different needs of users, such as new documentaries, live sports, entertainment, kids and education. Beefing up its own digital sports programming, Startimes won the 2012-15 free-to-air media rights for the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Hi-tech inroads
While offering cheaper packages than its rivals, and tailoring contents to appeal to customers, the company is taking initiatives to spread its operation all over the continent. For example, in Nigeria, Startimes services are available in cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port harcourt, Kano and ibadan. Beyond Nigeria, they can be accessed in over 10 African countries, where the company has established business halls and developed dealers, giving more customers a chance to enjoy quality information, education and entertainment at an affordable price.
Being a privately owned Chinese company, Startimes has achieved very good results in the overseas market. in 2011, their business operation in Africa had occupied a large portion of the company’s overall revenue.
Apart from offering a competitive price package, Pang added that Startimes’ investment has improved Africa’s radio and television infrastructure, and has put forward its migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television. it is also in line with the core strategies of the company’s overseas operation.
“We bring in investment, technology and management experience,” he said. “Those bring multiple benefits [to the continent], generating local employment, contributing tax revenues, and providing more choices for local people.”
Big vision
Still a young company that is only in its 20s, Startimes has grown to be a mature business. From initially being a system integrator and technology provider that transcended into a network operator, it is now moving toward being an influential global media group. When it comes to potential subscribers for Startimies’digital pay tV in Africa, Pang hopes half of the African population can enjoy their services over next five years.
The entrepreneur’s confidence is not groundless. Startimes expects to sign up 10 million digital pay tV customers and 16 million mobile users in Africa in the following three to five years. Pang’s hopes and expectations will likely become a reality soon.