JioFiber Set-top Box Could be Available by December, Separate DTH Connection May Not be Needed

JioFiber set-top box and live television services for new and existing customers may begin by December 2019 onwards. Furthermore, all the JioFiber plans and offers such as Free 4K television sets as well as other devices being provided along with Jio Forever Annual Plans may also come into play around the same time. Although there is no official word from Reliance Jio on this matter, user feedback seems to suggest the new development.

Existing and new users who are asking for the installation of JioFiber set-top box are apparently being told by JioFiber installation technicians that set-top boxes could be available by the end of the year. “At first they told us August they may start providing set-top box. Now they are telling us in December they may start giving the same. One technician also told us the plans we chose may start getting applied around Dhirubhai Ambani’s birthday,” said a user from Delhi to DataQuest who wishes to maintain anonymity. The same was confirmed by their neighbors who opted for the services as their society was chosen by Reliance Jio to install the fibre optic cables.

The same has been conveyed by a few users on social media as well. “I am from Alwar, Rajasthan and recently paid Rs 2500 for JioFiber connection. The person said to make connections in 2-4 days but only for internet and landline services. He said that the free 4kTV offer and set-top box can be availed only in December. Is it OK? Check (SIC),” questions a user Meena Gupta to JioCare on Twitter. The query has not elicited a response from Reliance Jio so far.

“They are not clear about it, it may happen in a week or it may take few months. My sales representative said, they expect atleast before December, but still he is not sure,” says @iVenpu a blogger from Bengaluru. However, this development cannot be confirmed until Reliance Jio makes an official announcement.

JioFiber Set-top Box May Not Need Separate DTH Connection

When JioFiber plans were announced by Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of the company, he stated that JioFiber customers would be able to enjoy television services through Jio’s partner multi-system operators (MSOs) and their affiliated local cable operators (LCOs). However, the latest development that has come to light seems to suggest that IPTV services may be availed by JioFiber customers wherein no Reliance Jio-partner LCOs or MSOs are available.

According to DreamDTH, the JioFiber IPTV STB without RF input has made its debut in the market based on a comment that was shared by one of their users on their forum. RF, which means radio frequency input, is a slot on set-top boxes that connects the television set to the cable box.

The set-top box seemingly appears to be that of Reliance Jio’s runs on Android 9.0 and comes pre-installed with several streaming apps. There is an RJ45 port for Ethernet wire to connect it to JioFiber Modem, and an HDMI port to connect the JioFiber Set-top Box to the television set. The JioFiber IPTV Set-top Box has been installed in Chennai according to the website and may be used to provide IPTV services for live television in areas where Reliance Jio does not have MSO and LCO partners.