France's Free launches first Android TV 4K STB and gateway

PARIS — Free, a subsidiary of France’s Iliad Group, has announced the launch of its ‘Freebox mini 4K’ the world’s first Ultra HD gateway/set-top box combination to run Android TV. Designed by Free’s own Freebox R&D team, the gateway consists of two units – a Server and a Player.

The Player is a TV set-top box that supports video playback at resolutions up to 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) including content compressed in HEVC format. The player provides access to the Google Play Store as well as Free’s own services. The box is based on an ARM Cortex-A15 dual-core processor running at 1.5GHz and includes 2GB of RAM. It connects to the TV over HDMI.

The Server is a gateway box that supports ADSL2+, VDSL2 and FTTH broadband access and provides 802.11n wi-fi for home networking. By connecting an external hard drive to the Server (eSATA or USB) subscribers can use the device to record programmes. The Server also includes a Femtocell for optimized mobile phone access in the home.

The Freebox mini 4K is priced at €29.99 per month.