Altron shuts down Altech Node business
Local technology group Altron is closing its video on demand business Altech Node.
Last year in September, Altron launched the Altech Node satellite-connected box which delivers VoD content in high definition to subscribers.
Altron also described the Node as a home-gateway device, which included features such as home security and internet calling.
But the product and service has failed to take off as Altron said its uptake has “not met expectations”.
“Unfavourable conditions such as the current economic environment which is putting pressure on the consumer and increased competition in the video-on-demand (VOD) environment have necessitated us to make the difficult decision to close the Altech Node business,” said Altron chief executive officer Robert Venter in a statement emailed to Fin24.
“We will however retain the technology within the group,” said Venter.
Altron also said that with immediate effect no new subscription agreements will be entered into for the Altech Node service.
Also, on October 31 2015 all Altech Node services will be terminated while the company intends to refund subscribers an amount of R1 999 per Altech Node device.
Altron said refunds will be processed during November 2015.
Managing director of technology research firm World Wide Worx, Arthur Goldstuck, told Fin24 that awareness of the Node started to diminish in the local market.
"It's been on the cards for a while,” Goldstuck told Fin24.
"Their product has been very limited in terms of content...and you didn't see any marketing for it.
"They must have realised at an early stage that it wasn't working and they pulled out or they decided to limit their exposure,” he said.
The closure of the Altech Node business also comes as Altron streamlines parts of its business.
In May, Altron said it planned to sell the subscriber base of its phone service provider business Altech Autopage.
Comments
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation