Chinese multinational media company, StarTimes, launched phase one of its ambitious digital project in Burundi on Friday, which will see 300 families in the East African nation’s rural areas gain access to high definition satellite television.
The project was originally announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015, where he stated that 10,000 villages across Africa would eventually be able to watch digital television for free – courtesy of the project.
Held in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, the ceremony celebrated the launch of Burundi’s part of the project – and saw a local technician demonstrate how the service would work to the onlooking crowd.
Burundi’s Minister of Communication and Media, Serge Ndayiragije, was also in attendance, and spoke of the growing synergy between both China and Burundi, nodding to the StarTimes project.
“Here in Burundi, Burundian people have a very intense thirst for seeing the outside world through television,” Chen Yongzheng, Chief Manager of Burundi Branch Star Times, told CGTN.
“They will be able to watch Chinese programs, world programs – including local television programs – they can receive them all very clearly in high resolution,” he added.
Alongside giving family homes access to digital television, selected hospitals and public areas will also receive projectors – allowing entire communities the chance to watch international television.
“We really like StarTimes very much. If you look at our friends’ homes, they all use StarTimes – because it helps us to understand what is happening from around the world,” Abdoul Nizigimana, who was invited to perform a traditional dance at the event, told CGTN.
Pascal Nyabubu, who works at Burundi National Radio Television in the department of Programme Management, told CGTN: “This StarTimes project is a good project, because we [Burundi] have been waiting a long time for it. The population has a problem with affording televisions, especially digital televisions – and especially in this hard period.
“That’s why we think that the StarTimes project will really help, so that people can access international channels – including the national television. This will help them to be open-minded, and to learn.”
According to the World Food Programme, Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Poverty is widespread, with 90-95% of the population living on less than $2 per day. Many people, especially those living in the rural areas, do not have access to a television – something that this Chinese project is keen to amend.
“This project is like an established bridge which can connect Burundian people to rest of the world by opening a big door of information,” Chen said.
“In this case, they can watch Chinese programs like the Kung Fu channel, watch Chinese news so that they can have a direct knowledge of China.”
The project falls in line with deepening relations between China and Burundi, and the television service will also allow people to watch Chinese and world programmes in their local language.
As part of the ambitious plan, StarTimes has launched in other countries in East Africa. Earlier this month, the Kenya portion of the project saw 800 villages selected for the service installation.
