Pace ousts Motorola from top-spot in STB market

Sales of set-top boxes (STBs) in 2009 defied recessions in many global markets to grow 15.2% year-on-year, according to IMS Research.
 
Preliminary data from the firm’s forthcoming annual report on STB shipments show that Motorola was ousted from its position as leading supplier by Pace, which grew sales 31% year-on-year to leap up the rankings from third place.
 
Motorola didn’t fall far, though, taking second place in a list of top-five vendors.
 
The chart was rounded out by Technicolor, Scientific Atlanta/Cisco, and Humax.
 
Rebecca Kurlak, co-author of the study, said UK-headquartered Pace benefitted from an aggressive partnership strategy with global pay-TV operators, and a clear internal structure following its acquisition of Philip’s STB business in 2007.
 
That business now focuses on IP, DTT, and linear TV services, which “has allowed Pace’s headquarters...to remain focused on traditional TV platforms and NDS CAS clients,” Kurlak said.
 
IMS predicts Pace will remain top of the heap in 2010, due to recent deals covering HD deployments for satellite operators M7 Group, and ASTRO.