Astro Smart Card Swap For Enhanced Services
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Kristal subscribers will soon be able to watch all Astro programmes that subscribers in Malaysia are currently viewing following the announcement of the Smart Card swapping exercise for the new Kristal-Astro card beginning from the middle of this month.

From April 15, some 27,000 local Kristal-Astro subscribers will have to swap for free their blue colour Kristal-Astro cards to new green colour cards that are equipped with better security features and more room for expansion in the future.

To avoid service disruption, subscribers are being given a month's time (until May 15, 2008) to exchange the cards.

A source at Kristal-Astro said, "The old cards have limited security characteristics. We need to change to a new smart card that possesses better security features and to prepare for future expansion of Kristal-Astro programmes.

"The swapping of the smart cards in Brunei Darussalam will also coincide with the swapping of the new Astro cards in Malaysia," he added

Speaking about the "Astro on Demand" programme, he said, "We are currently working on bringing it to Brunei.

Basically, whatever programmes Malaysian Astro subscribers watch, Bruneians can also view."

He also revealed that Kristal-Astro would be repackaging its varieties package to a more affordable deal for entry level.

Kristal-Astro subscribers can exchange their cards at all Kristal-Astro branches — Gadong Properties Centre, DST Group Counter at Yayasan, DST Group Counter in Delima, DST Group Counter at Tutong and DST Group Counter in KB.

Subscribers will have to bring along their Identity Cards for verification.

After acquiring the new Kristal cards, subscribers only need to insert them into their decoders. The decoders will automatically go into a standby mode and perform a software update that will take no more than 10 minutes.

The new smart card has been tested and is compatible with all Kristal-Astro decoders. However, should any problems arise, subscribers should contact Kristal-Astro customer services at 151 for assistance.

Kristal-Astro has confirmed that there will be sufficient new smart cards at all Kristal-Astro and DST Group branches.

Five years ago, Kristal-Astro conducted a similar exercise to replace the old orange colour card. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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