Haven’t you heard? DStv offers internet now – and has done since 2021 – all done to complement its online-only streaming service. Now that MultiChoice’s home-grown service Showmax has become a big deal in its own right, it was only a matter of time before the two were joined together in holy matrimony through some sort of FLTE bundle. Well, that time has finally come judging by the masthead on DStv’s site.
Could be worse
The deal invites unassuming customers who don’t know any better to lay down R280 every month in exchange for a Showmax Entertainment subscription, 50GB data on an FLTE (Fixed LTE (Long-Term Evolution)) connection, and a router. At best it’s a decent offering that, as with most DStv products, includes a catch. Customers are locked into a two-year-long contract, rather than a simpler pay-as-you-go system.
Still, compared to the price of mobile data, DStv’s deal isn’t a terrible one. On its own, Showmax Entertainment costs R100/m, meaning customers are essentially paying R180 for 50GB of data – or R3.60/GB. Unfortunately, 25GB of that data is earmarked for daytime use, while the other 25GB can only be used when the sun goes down.
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This does of course mean that you’ll be massively limited Showmax’s resolution in the long run. Users watching content on the ‘Best’ resolution (1080p) on the web or TV app chow through 1.2GB/hr – meaning only 41 hours of watch time. Mobile watchers will have an even harder time in 1080p, which takes at least 1.6GB/hr, reducing watch time to a rough 31 hours. To make the most of the deal, users will have to ration their data to at least 720p to get 70+ hours out of the month.
If that sounds agreeable to you, new customers can sign up on DStv’s website by hitting the ‘Chat to agent’ button. First, they’ll need to enter their address to make sure DStv offers coverage in their area. If not, customers may be asked to purchase an external antenna “to receive signal within your home. DStv does not stock the antenna.”