The DStv Mobile service will end on 31 October 2018, as announced by MultiChoice recently.
This means that DStv Walkas and DStv Driftas will no longer function after 31st October 2018
Launched in 2010, DStv Mobile used DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast – Terrestrial) technology. This radio signal allowed users to access DStv channels from a DStv Walka handheld TV or from smartphones, notebooks and tablets using a DStv Drifta mobile decoder. The Drifta received the DVB-H radio signal and converted it to a Wi-Fi signal, allowing smart devices access.
“Over the last few years, technology has evolved as broadband access continues to grow. It’s not feasible to continue to maintain a separate land-based, dedicated network for this service alone when an even better service can be offered to our customers on DStv Now via the Internet and Wi-Fi,” said MultiChoice.
Multichoice is moving their Mobile services to the DStv Now App which can be downloaded from both the Google Play Store and the iPhone App Store. Using the DStv Now App it is possible to link up to 5 devices to your DStv subscription at no extra charge. For example, mom can watch Soapies on the main TV with Explora decoder in the lounge while dad watches rugby on his laptop in the garage, granny watches movies on her tablet in her flat, daughter watches MTV on her Samsung Note in her room, and son watches cartoons on his iPhone.
MultiChoice announced to customers who currently have a DStv Mobile subscription that they have already switched off certain transmitters, resulting in a loss of reception for some users. Accordingly, MultiChoice will not charge users their DStv Mobile subscription fee from 1st September 2018, and decoder insurance for Walka and Drifta will also be cancelled.
MultiChoice placed recycling bins at its branches in Randburg, Durban and Cape Town for users to dispose of their Walka and Drifta devices.