Solar energy group teams up with ZukuTV to target off-grid Kenyan homes

Solar energy specialist Azuri Technologies has teamed up with Wananchi Group-owned pay TV operator Zuku TV to launch a new pay-as-you-go TV service aimed at regions in Kenya without electricity supply.

The Azuri  PayGo Solar TV offering will combine solar home power, a 24-inch TV, satellite dish and Zuku’s Smart+ entertainment offering with 48 TV and 21 radio channels.

The TV line-up includes a broad range of regional channels as well as Zuku’s own-branded services, international news channels, kids, lifestyle and music services and a range of religious channels.

The offering also includes four high-brightness LED lamps for use inside and outside the home, a mobile phone charger and portable radio.

According to UK-based Azuri, the offering is aimed at providing households outside the power grid with an affordable TV services. The service will be initially available in selected regions of central Kenya and will be rolled out progressively nationwide in 2017, targeting the over five million households across the country that do not currently have an electricity supply.

The service is available for a down-payment of KES4,999 and a recurring charge of KES149 a day.