Set-Top Box Shortage Puts Telewest Three Months Behind

Telewest has admitted that factors including the shortage in supply of digital set-top boxes means it will not reach its original sales target by the end of the year.

“There have been the inevitable glitches as we have rolled out our new digital products.” said a company statement. “Some of them- such as the set-top box shortage that slowed our digital TV rollout- have been outside our control.”

The company was forced to suspend marketing of its digital service last month when a component shortage hit world wide supplies of digital decoder boxes (see Telewest Puts Digital Strategy On Hold As Box Shortage Affects Cable Industry).

Telewest launched its digital service in October last year (see Telewest Launches Digital Service) and was aiming to grow its current total of 223,000 sales to 500,000 by the end of the year. Releasing its interim results yesterday, the company admitted that this figure was now more likely to be achieved in the first quarter of next year.

It is thought that Telewest is working with its supplier Pace Microsystems to restore normal stock levels of the technology, but that the shortage will translate to a three month delay in the rollout timetable.

Telewest Communications: 01483 750 900