Manbang
North Korean digital media player / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Manbang (Korean: 만방) is a series of state-owned digital media players issued by North Korea's Korean Central Broadcasting Committee, providing over-the-top content in the form of channels. It was created in response to streaming platforms like Netflix and Roku in the west, and the popularity of Chinese-made Notel players in North Korea.[3][4]
Developer | Korean Central Broadcasting Committee |
---|---|
Type | Digital media player |
Operating system | Android 4.4.2 (heavily modified to include security function to monitor usage and prevent unauthorised apps from being installed and used)[1] |
Connectivity | RCA cable and HDMI[2] |
Manbang, which translates to "everywhere", is only available to citizens in Pyongyang, Siniju and Sariwon. Due to North Korea's isolationism, users connect to the service not by internet but via the state-controlled intranet using the IPTV protocol. It's hard to tell if the technology at play is IPTV or VOD but according to description it is a mixture of both.[2][5]
The device is an Internet Protocol Television that works through a separate box. The system comes as a set-top box which first has to be connected to a modem and after that to the phone line. The box can be connected to a television through a HDMI cable.[6][7][8]