Star Times, A Digital Television provider has been dragged to court for allegedly distributing decoders using technology condemned by communications regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
Uganda recently adopted Digital Video Broadcasting — Terrestrial2 DVB-T2 set top boxes as the standard for the digital switch with UCC directing players to seize selling devices that do not meet specifications.
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The Uganda Consumer Protection Awareness Association (UCPAA), jointly with two consumers of the pay television subscribing to Star Times TV, Mr Mulwani Taminwa and Muzamir Kasamba, have sued the company alleging that Star Times promised to stop the sale and importation of DVB-T decoders, those incompatible to digital technology.
Star Times pay TV subscribers allege that the firm has continued selling them DVB-T1 set top boxes— an outdated technology which is yet to be switched off instead of Digital Video Broadcasting – Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2), a modern decoder with a bigger frequency spectrum capable of carrying higher TV content and compatible with digital broadcasting compared to DVB-T.
They are seeking orders to exchange their decoders with the new technology.
Through their lawyers; Omongole and Company Advocates, the consumers allege that a year after the UCC announcement, Star Times has not stopped the selling of decoders with outdated technology bearing in mind that those very decoders will be switched off.
The Commercial Division of the High Court has granted permission to the three parties to sue on behalf of the 130,000 consumers.
Source: Daily Monitor
