Hybrid
set-top boxes are being deployed by pay-TV operators to help them deliver
advanced services and manage bandwidth scarcity in broadcast networks.

In
2010, only 40 percent of set-top boxes featured hybrid capabilities, with many
not yet enabled by software as operators were not ready to deploy IP video
services.

Hybrid
box penetration will rise above 60 percent by 2016 as operators look at
IP-based video on demand (VOD) and advertising solutions, as well as
interactive content. Hybrid set-top boxes have the ability to decode video sent
over the Internet or over two types of networks (such as satellite and
terrestrial).

“Huawei
has powered to first in IPTV set-top box market share from a distant fourth a
sign that APAC IPTV growth will outpace that of Europe in the coming years,” said
Jason Blackwell, practice director, digital home.

“Pace
is once again the worldwide leader for set-top box shipments, with Motorola
remaining in second place, and Technicolor a close third,” Blackwell added.

Satellite
operators are looking to Internet-enabled set-top boxes to deliver advanced
services over-the-top (OTT) in regions with strong broadband penetration. In
addition, operators in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa are looking
at hybrid satellite Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) platforms to offer national
and international feeds integrated with local programming in a
bandwidth-efficient way.

By
Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com