BT fails to keep Pace

Telecommunications service provider BT has been forced to acquire set-top boxes from Humax, a Korean group, so as to be able to launch its long-delayed YouView internet TV service. That after rejecting those provided by Pace, its intended supplier.The Financial Times has learnt that the boxes being supplied by Pace did not meet BT's requirements in spite of an agreement to use them for the YouView launch. BT's decision will be seen as a blow for Yorkshire-based Pace, which became the world's biggest maker by volume of set-top boxes in 2010.BT still plans to launch a service with the Pace box, although there was no indication of when the company would be ready to offer the product to market. The Pace box is expected to be smaller and feature faster technology.AB