IPTV Deployments Expand Scope for the World Market for Semiconductors in Set-top Boxes

Aug. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Aug. 17, 2011 – In the world set-top box markets, trends point to rapid transition from cable services to the current high definition (HD) video broadcasting. Having registered  more than 50 percent growth of the subscriber base in the year 2009, the European market, particularly France, has displayed a tremendous Internet protocol TV, (IPTV) adoption rate in recent years. The IPTV segment is poised for enormous growth in the near future.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan for Semiconductors in Set-top Boxes, finds that the market earned revenue of  more than $14.4 million in 2010, and estimates this to reach $31.1 million in 2017.

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“Currently, IPTV is being implemented across Europe and is gaining momentum in other countries, challenging traditional STBs,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Prem Kumar Manickam. “Reduction in subscription prices, high quality of video service, and bundling with other customized value added services (VAS) have steered the gravitation toward IPTV.”

Burgeoning STB sales in the Asia Pacific markets have led to a demand upsurge for tuners in those regions. A wide range of application deployments for tuners is being explored. Silicon tuners are replacing traditional CAN tuners, and a spike in sales of silicon tuners is expected. Integration chips that feature a demodulator, decoder, and tuner in a single chip are a popular choice as they reduce both board space and overall cost.

The MPEG decoder market is slated for tremendous growth in the long run due to new technology deployments. A chip with a mix of MPEG2/MPEG4 capability will be initially deployed, and this will eventually be supplanted by MPEG4 chips.

Varying transmission standards and integration of many components onto a single module poses a huge challenge in chip design. Board space must be kept at a minimum, yet more components need to be accommodated. To further complicate matters, varying global requirements must also be supported. Due to the trend toward integration, MPEG chips will also be witnessing integration with other modules to support more functionality.

Competition has intensified with Asian participants, particularly Chinese entrants foraying into this market. The level of competition is likely to remain high in the medium term as these participants are strongly entrenched in the local markets they serve. Costs will see a downward trend, owing to large scale manufacturing and increased competition.

Technological superiority and economies of scale are factors that can positively impact business outcomes.

“Outsourcing and complete integration of all the components will provide OEMs the cutting edge in this competitive marketplace,” says Manickam. “It is imperative for OEMs to understand the subtle nuances of the STB industry and squarely address specific customer needs.”

World Market for Semiconductors in Set-top Boxes is part of the Semiconductors Growth Partnership Service program, which also includes research on The Mobile Handset and Smartphone Market in India. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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