Following weeks of rumour, Ercisson has finally confirmed that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft to acquire its TV solution Mediaroom business. The Swedish communications giant says that the move, which it claims immediately gives it a quarter share of the IPTV and multiscreen solutions markets for ‘innovative video distribution’, underlines its commitment to […]
Following weeks of rumour, Ercisson has finally confirmed that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft to acquire its TV solution Mediaroom business.
The Swedish communications giant says that the move, which it claims immediately gives it a quarter share of the IPTV and multiscreen solutions markets for ‘innovative video distribution’, underlines its commitment to being partner of choice for video distribution across multiple networks and devices.
Mediaroom already sees use with television service providers including AT&T U-verse, Entertain of Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, TELUS Optik TV and Swisscom. Mediaroom-powered TV services are offered on more than 22 million set-top boxes deployed throughout the Americas, EMEA and APAC.
Explaining the importance of the acquisition, Ericsson points out that research projects the global IPTV market to reach 76 million subscribers in 2013 with revenues of $32 billion, growing to 105 million subscribers and $45 billion by 2015.
“Ericsson’s vision of the Networked Society foresees 50 billion devices to be connected via broadband, mobility and cloud. Future video distribution will have a similar impact on consumer behaviour and consumption as mobile voice has had,” commented Per Borgklint, senior vice president and head of business unit support solutions at Ericsson. “This acquisition contributes to a leading position for Ericsson with more than 40 customers, serving over 11 million subscriber households. In addition, Ericsson will be powered with senior competence and some of the most talented people within the field of IPTV distribution.”
“We are proud of the number one IPTV market position that we have achieved with Mediaroom. Ericsson’s complementary portfolio of TV and networking services will help drive the future growth and development of Mediaroom,” added Tom Gibbons, corporate vice president of Microsoft Corporation. “Ericsson is positioned to be a valuable strategic partner for operators and TV service providers around the world as the IPTV market evolves.”
Going forward, Ericsson says that it will have a base in the TV and video space that has at its foundation a focus on serving customer needs. Ericsson says that already the ever-changing behaviours of TV consumers are evolving faster than ever and that speed of innovation and intelligent solutions will be the drivers for drive consumer propositions in the new TV anywhere paradigm.
