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Cape Town - Local video on demand service Vidi announced on Sunday that South Africans can now watch TV shows and movies without the need for an application.
Launched in September, Vidi aims to provide internet streaming services in SA and the company offers the service at R149 per month with an additional charge of renting new movie titles at R27.
Previously, smart device users required an application to run Vidi, but the company has dropped that requirement in line with international best practice, though the app remains functional.
"You can access Vidi through your browser on any device or you can download Android or iOS apps. Vidi is not only an advert- free and schedule-free platform, but is also adaptive to internet speeds and can work from slow or fast internet connections," the company said.
The Vidi service should also be seen as a defensive move in a largely globalised world against international players like Netflix which currently operates only in the Americas and parts of Europe.
Netflix pricing starts at around $8 per month up to $12 for four simultaneous screen streaming.
Fibre networks
Streaming services rely on a high speed broadband connection and in SA, there are few options for true high speed broadband.
The main provider is Telkom through its last mile cable infrastructure, but there are a maximum of only six million possible connections in SA, with the current number of ADSL subscribers fairly constant at about 800 000.
One strategy to boost network connections in SA is that different providers should be allowed to operate on Telkom infrastructure.
According to the government's National Broadband Policy presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee in February, the vision for the country is "A high capacity, open access wholesale network that leverages existing (brownfield) infrastructure and private capital to reach underserved areas (greenfield) through voluntary incorporation".
In practice though, the open access principle may more easily apply to new fibre networks than legacy systems as the networks can be customised to the needs of emerging technologies.
And a number of South African companies are racing to provide fibre networks.
For example, the Vuma network will be offered to consumers via third parties and projects costs start at R399 for a 4mbps line, up to R1 299 for a 50mbps package.
Mobile operators Vodacom and MTN also aim to provide last mile fibre connections though cost and availability are still uncertain.
Launched in September, Vidi aims to provide internet streaming services in SA and the company offers the service at R149 per month with an additional charge of renting new movie titles at R27.
Previously, smart device users required an application to run Vidi, but the company has dropped that requirement in line with international best practice, though the app remains functional.
"You can access Vidi through your browser on any device or you can download Android or iOS apps. Vidi is not only an advert- free and schedule-free platform, but is also adaptive to internet speeds and can work from slow or fast internet connections," the company said.
The Vidi service should also be seen as a defensive move in a largely globalised world against international players like Netflix which currently operates only in the Americas and parts of Europe.
Netflix pricing starts at around $8 per month up to $12 for four simultaneous screen streaming.
Fibre networks
Streaming services rely on a high speed broadband connection and in SA, there are few options for true high speed broadband.
The main provider is Telkom through its last mile cable infrastructure, but there are a maximum of only six million possible connections in SA, with the current number of ADSL subscribers fairly constant at about 800 000.
One strategy to boost network connections in SA is that different providers should be allowed to operate on Telkom infrastructure.
According to the government's National Broadband Policy presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee in February, the vision for the country is "A high capacity, open access wholesale network that leverages existing (brownfield) infrastructure and private capital to reach underserved areas (greenfield) through voluntary incorporation".
In practice though, the open access principle may more easily apply to new fibre networks than legacy systems as the networks can be customised to the needs of emerging technologies.
And a number of South African companies are racing to provide fibre networks.
For example, the Vuma network will be offered to consumers via third parties and projects costs start at R399 for a 4mbps line, up to R1 299 for a 50mbps package.
Mobile operators Vodacom and MTN also aim to provide last mile fibre connections though cost and availability are still uncertain.
Vidi is available as a free trial and is offered across multiple devices.
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