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ST creates new record with set top boxes shipments crossing 66 mn
MUMBAI / BANGALORE: STMicroelectronics has announced that its worldwide shipments of set-top box (STB) during 2004 has reached 66 million units. This marks the greatest number of units shipped in a calendar year since ST entered the market in 1995.
The record 2004 figure represents an increase of 43 per cent over 2003 volumes. Analyzing each market segment in more detail, the greatest increase in volume was seen in the satellite sector which contributed over 50 million units to the total, representing an increase of over 30 per cent on 2003 volumes.
ST supplied 7 million devices to cable services, a growth of 15 per cent , and shipments to terrestrial STBs exceeded 6 million units, an increase of over 240 per cent. Also included in the 2003 total is over 1 million units supplied to the emerging market for IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) STBs, where content is delivered over a broadband Internet connection.
“The tremendous growth we have seen in 2004 means we have exceeded all previous record totals,” said ST’s Home Entertainment Group GM Christos Lagomichos. “The continued drive by governments around the world toward analogue switch-off will see the market for digital STBs grow even further in the coming years.”
The rapid growth in the STB market is illustrated by the speed at which the landmark total of 200 million units has been reached. ST announced it had shipped 100 million MPEG decoders to STB manufacturers in early 2003, some 8 years after first entering the market. In contrast, the second 100 million units have been shipped in just the following two years.
“ST has led the market for MPEG-2 decoders for many years and in 2004 collected 66 per cent of the merchant market revenues from dedicated MPEG-2 STB silicon devices,” said Michelle Abraham, Principal Analyst at In-Stat. “We forecast that the total market for digital STBs will grow to 91 million units in 2005 and 130 million units in 2008.”
ST continues to service this demand by developing innovative products that further reduce the overall bill of materials of the set-top box.
Complementing the comprehensive range of MPEG-2 decoders, ST includes satellite, cable, and terrestrial tuner and demodulator devices in the product portfolio. These devices convert the broadcast signal into the digital MPEG-2 stream.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
