StarTimes Tower in Beijing (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia)

In an announcement at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAS) in Beijing , StarTimes, a Chinese digital television operator said it is providing satellite TV access to 10,000 African villages under a joint national connectivity project with African governments.

The “Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages” project was initially announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015. StarTimes said that it is contributing to the project by installing satellite dishes and projector televisions in African public institutions and households. Those connected receive free satellite DTH services.

StarTimes said that it will reach 10,112 villages, 16,000 households and 2,400 public institutions in more than 20 African countries under the entire scope of the project, with 800 villages in Kenya alone. Financial details of the project, as well as details of the content being provided were not discloses.