Liberty Global launches ‘greenest-ever set top box’

Leading telco Liberty Global has launched what it calls its “greenest-ever set top box.”

The small 4K Mini TV Box was designed in-house and manufactured by Commscope with a goal of maintaining a quality viewing experience while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and the use of plastics.

The result is a device that is made from 35% recycled plastic with no single-use plastics in its casing and reduced energy consumption by 77% when compared to previous set top boxes. The company claims that it has a maximum power usage of 5W, even while watching 4K content.

In terms of the user experience, Liberty promises full access to live TV, replay TV and on demand content via access to a range of in-built OTT apps. 4K Mini TV Box, as the title would suggest, supports 4K and Dolby Sound, and was built on Liberty’s Horizon 4 next-gen TV platform.

Liberty also noted that 4K Mini TV Box is its first all-IP device, meaning that it solely relies on an internet connection with no additional cable or satellite installation required.

4K Mini TV Box will first launch in Poland via UPC Poland, before being introduced in other Liberty Global markets “in due course.” The company did not reveal which markets will be covered, but given the branding crossover between UPC in Poland and Switzerland, it would not be a surprise to see the device launch in the Swiss market.

Enrique Rodriguez, chief technology officer at Liberty Global, said: “Our new 4K box is very small in size, but it packs a mighty punch, giving our customers a cutting-edge 4K viewing experience across the full spectrum of live, on-demand and streamed content. Moreover, the 4K Mini TV Box combines technological innovation with our long-standing commitment to sustainability, delivering a world-class viewing experience while reducing energy consumption and use of plastics.”

Robert Redeleanu, CEO Liberty Global, Eastern Europe, said: “At UPC Poland, customer satisfaction is paramount to us, so we are committed to delivering outstanding customer care combined with best in-class connectivity and entertainment, anytime and anywhere. I am thrilled that Poland is the first country within Liberty Global to launch the new 4K Mini TV Box, and confident it will help us further enhance our unique customer experience. As we bring new innovations to our millions of customers and new premises, we are well on top of the convergence game in the market.”