Pace plc
Pace plc was a British developer of set-top boxes, residential gateways, connectivity equipment, software and services for pay-TV and broadband operators.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Pace plc was a British communications-technology company whose products sat at the intersection of television distribution, broadband access and residential networking. Founded in 1982 by Yorkshire businessmen Barry Rubery, David Hood and Robert Fleming, the business initially operated as Pace Micro Supplies and developed electronic equipment for consumer and communications applications. It became Pace Micro Technology plc in 1987 and later adopted the shorter name Pace plc in 2008. The company established an early position in consumer connectivity by introducing commercially available low-cost modems in 1985. It then moved into satellite television equipment, selling analogue satellite receivers from 1987. As digital broadcasting developed, Pace concentrated increasingly on digital television reception and operator equipment. In 1996 it supplied DVB decoders to Galaxy in Australia, an early commercial deployment of the Digital Video Broadcasting standard, and the same year it floated on the London Stock Exchange. From 1998, it shipped digital satellite television equipment to BSkyB, helping make operator-specific set-top boxes a central part of its business. Pace expanded through acquisitions and technology development. In 1999 it purchased the set-top-box division of Acorn Computers and converted the operation into a Cambridge office. For a period, the company owned the RISC OS operating system and used related technologies in decoder products, although the Cambridge office closed in 2003. Its original modem operation was separated through a management buy-out; the resulting PMC Electronics later entered receivership in 1999. Pace also broadened its customer base in North America, beginning product deliveries to Comcast in 2000 and supplying other large operators including AT&T and DirecTV. The company pursued product innovation in personal video recording and connected-home equipment. In 2002 it marketed free-to-view personal video recorders, and in 2005 it worked with Australian subscription-television provider Foxtel on a DVB-C personal video recorder. In 2008, Pace acquired Royal Philips Electronics' Set-Top Box and Connectivity Solutions division, substantially increasing its scale and changing its corporate name to Pace plc. In 2010 it acquired 2Wire, a United States home-networking equipment maker, as well as Bewan Systems, a specialist in Internet-protocol and cable equipment, and Latens Systems, a pay-television software company. In 2014, it added Aurora Networks, which developed optical transport and access-network products for broadband networks. Pace's activities extended beyond television receivers to advanced residential gateways, cable and satellite equipment, IPTV platforms, broadband access products, optical networking and software for pay-TV operators. Its customer base included cable, telecommunications, satellite and IPTV companies. Manufacturing was progressively outsourced, with the remaining Saltaire manufacturing capacity outsourced in 2001; the Saltaire site continued as the company's headquarters and an administration and development centre. Major operations were also maintained in the United States, France and India. In April 2015, Pace and Arris Group announced a recommended stock-and-cash combination valuing Pace at approximately £1.4 billion at the announced terms. The transaction required shareholder approval and regulatory clearances in several jurisdictions. The final required clearance was obtained in December 2015, and the acquisition completed on 4 January 2016. Following the transaction, the combined group was incorporated in the United Kingdom but managed operationally from the United States, with Pace shareholders holding a minority interest. Pace ceased to operate as an independent listed company. Arris was later acquired by CommScope in 2019, placing the former Pace business within CommScope's network-infrastructure portfolio.
History
Pace was established in 1982 by Barry Rubery, David Hood and Robert Fleming. The business adopted the name Pace Micro Supplies in 1983 and became Pace Micro Technology plc in 1987. Its early work included low-cost modems, which it introduced commercially in 1985, followed by analogue satellite receivers from 1987. These products gave the company experience in the equipment used to deliver communications and television services to homes. During the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, Pace shifted its centre of gravity toward pay television. In 1996 it introduced DVB decoders for the Australian satellite operator Galaxy and listed on the London Stock Exchange. It began shipping digital satellite television equipment for BSkyB in 1998. In 1999, Pace acquired Acorn Computers' set-top-box division and established a Cambridge operation. The company temporarily owned RISC OS and drew on associated technology in its decoder products, but closed the Cambridge office in 2003. Pace's modem activities were separated through a management buy-out; PMC Electronics, the resulting company, went into receivership in August 1999. Pace expanded its international operator relationships in the early 2000s. It started delivering equipment to Comcast in the United States in June 2000 and also supplied AT&T and DirecTV. In 2001 it outsourced the last manufacturing capacity at Saltaire, retaining the site primarily as a headquarters, administrative base and development centre. In March 2002, it became an early marketer of free-to-view personal video recorders. In 2005, it worked with Foxtel on a DVB-C personal video recorder for subscription television. Management changes accompanied the company's expansion. Neil Gaydon became chief executive in April 2006, while Mike McTighe became chairman. Pace acquired the Set-Top Box and Connectivity Solutions division of Royal Philips Electronics in April 2008, approximately doubling the scale of the company. In May of that year, it changed its name from Pace Micro Technology plc to Pace plc. In 2010 it acquired 2Wire, Bewan Systems and Latens Systems, adding home networking, Internet-protocol and cable connectivity, and pay-TV software capabilities. Allan Leighton became chairman in 2011, and Mike Pulli replaced Gaydon as chief executive in December of that year. The company reported the shipment or sale of its one hundred millionth digital set-top box in 2012. It continued moving beyond traditional television receivers through connected-home products and network infrastructure. In January 2014 it completed the acquisition of Aurora Networks, a developer and manufacturer of optical transport and access-network solutions for broadband networks. By this stage, Pace served cable, satellite, telecommunications and IPTV operators and maintained significant operations in the United Kingdom, United States, France and India. On 22 April 2015, Pace and Arris announced an agreement for a recommended combination using cash and shares. The transaction was announced with a value of approximately £1.4 billion for Pace and required approval from shareholders and competition authorities in multiple countries. The final regulatory clearance was received in December 2015, and completion took place on 4 January 2016. The resulting group was incorporated in the United Kingdom but managed operationally from the United States; former Pace shareholders held 24 percent and Arris shareholders 76 percent of the combined company. Arris was acquired by CommScope in 2019, ending Pace's existence as an independent corporate brand.
- 2016
Arris acquisition completed
[1]Arris completed its acquisition of Pace on 4 January, ending Pace's independent corporate and listed-company status.
- 2014
Aurora Networks acquisition completed
[1]Pace completed its acquisition of Aurora Networks, expanding into optical transport and broadband access-network infrastructure.
- 2012
One hundred millionth digital set-top box
[1]Pace reached the milestone of selling its one hundred millionth digital set-top box.
- 2008
Philips division acquired and company renamed
[1]Pace acquired Philips' Set-Top Box and Connectivity Solutions division and changed its corporate name to Pace plc.
- 2002
Free-to-view PVR marketed
[1]Pace became an early marketer of free-to-view personal video recorders.
- 1998
Digital satellite equipment supplied to BSkyB
[1]Pace began shipping digital satellite television equipment to BSkyB.
- 1996
DVB decoder and stock-market milestones
[1]Pace introduced DVB decoders for Galaxy in Australia and floated on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1987
Satellite receiver business begins
[1]Pace began selling analogue satellite television set-top receivers and adopted the name Pace Micro Technology plc.
- 1985
Low-cost modem introduced
[1]Pace introduced commercially available low-cost modems.
- 1982
Company founded
[1]Barry Rubery, David Hood and Robert Fleming founded the business in Yorkshire.
Products and positioning
A business-to-business technology supplier for pay-TV, cable, satellite, IPTV, telecommunications and broadband operators, combining consumer-premises equipment with network connectivity and operator software.
Pay-TV equipment · 1987
Digital satellite set-top boxes
Pace developed digital satellite receivers and operator-specific set-top boxes for pay-TV platforms. These products formed a central part of the company's business as satellite television moved from analogue to digital delivery, including equipment supplied to BSkyB and other international operators.
Digital television equipment · 1996
DVB decoders
Pace introduced decoders based on the Digital Video Broadcasting standard and supplied an early commercial deployment to Australia's Galaxy satellite operation in 1996. The products supported the company's expansion from analogue reception into digital pay-TV infrastructure.
Consumer-premises equipment · 2002
Personal video recorders
Pace marketed free-to-view personal video recorders from 2002 and later worked with Foxtel on a DVB-C PVR. These devices combined digital television reception with local recording and playback, extending the role of the set-top box beyond channel decoding.
Broadband equipment
Residential gateways
Through its connectivity businesses, including 2Wire and Bewan, Pace supplied residential gateways and related home-networking equipment. These products connected subscriber homes to broadband services and supported the convergence of television, Internet and managed communications.
Television software · 2010
Pay-TV software
The acquisition of Latens Systems added software capabilities for pay-TV services. This broadened Pace's offering from physical receivers and gateways into the software and service layers used by television operators.
Broadband network infrastructure · 2014
Optical transport and access-network systems
Aurora Networks brought optical transport and access-network technology into Pace's portfolio. The acquisition supported a strategy of serving broadband networks as well as the subscriber equipment deployed inside customers' homes.
Brand decisions
2015
Recommended combination with Arris GroupM&ABackground
Pace and Arris pursued a combination of complementary communications-equipment businesses serving broadband and pay-TV operators.
Action taken
The boards agreed to recommend a stock-and-cash transaction, announced at an approximate Pace valuation of £1.4 billion, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Aftermath
After the required clearances, the acquisition completed in January 2016. Former Pace shareholders held 24 percent of the combined group and Arris shareholders held 76 percent.
Announced transaction valuation. £1.4 billion (22 April 2015 announcement)
2014
Acquisition of Aurora NetworksM&ABackground
Pace was extending its activities into network infrastructure used by broadband providers.
Action taken
The company completed the acquisition of Aurora Networks, a developer and manufacturer of optical transport and access-network solutions.
Aftermath
Aurora's technology strengthened Pace's presence in advanced broadband-network infrastructure.
2010
Expansion into home networking and pay-TV softwareM&ABackground
Pace aimed to broaden its position beyond television receivers into connected-home equipment, network connectivity and pay-TV software.
Action taken
It acquired 2Wire, Bewan Systems and Latens Systems.
Aftermath
The acquisitions expanded Pace's portfolio across residential gateways, IP and cable equipment, and software for pay-TV operators.
2008
Acquisition of Philips' set-top-box and connectivity divisionM&ABackground
Pace sought to increase scale in set-top boxes and connectivity equipment.
Action taken
It acquired Royal Philips Electronics' Set-Top Box and Connectivity Solutions division.
Aftermath
The transaction approximately doubled the size of Pace and was followed by the company's name change to Pace plc.
2001
Manufacturing outsourcedStrategyBackground
Pace was concentrating on digital television equipment while reducing the role of its Saltaire manufacturing operation.
Action taken
The company outsourced the remaining manufacturing capacity at Saltaire and retained the site as an administrative and development centre.
Aftermath
The move reinforced Pace's focus on product development, operator relationships and technology rather than in-house manufacturing.
Recent events
- 2019
CommScope acquires Arris[1]
M&A
CommScope acquired Arris, placing the former Pace business within CommScope's broader network-infrastructure operations.
- 2016
Pace acquisition by Arris completed[1]
M&A
Arris completed its acquisition of Pace on 4 January 2016. Pace thereafter ceased to operate as an independent listed company.
- 2015
Pace announces combination with Arris Group[1]
M&A
Pace and Arris announced a recommended stock-and-cash transaction intended to combine their communications-equipment businesses. The announced terms valued Pace at approximately £1.4 billion and were subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
- 2015
Pace receives final regulatory clearance for Arris transaction[1]
M&A · Regulation
The company received the final regulatory approval needed for its combination with Arris, allowing the transaction to proceed.
Sources1 sources
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