A Growth Engine for Europe

Technicolor is a global developer of set-top boxes, devices that connect to televisions to access satellite and cable channels, apps and online content. Wanting to give consumers a more connected experience and help television providers make the most of the latest technology, Technicolor looked to Android for inspiration. Soon after, it began developing the first ever Android-powered set-top boxes, and now aims to produce more than 6 million by the end of 2018. “When we looked at the services and content people could access on their smartphones, we realised set-top boxes were so far behind,” says Gaëtan Delcroix, Vice President, OTT Product Management and Engineering. “By integrating Android into set-top boxes, we can give people the same user experience they get with a smartphone and help television providers follow the latest trends and meet customer needs.”

Android has also streamlined the company’s development process. Having a powerful, standardised operating system makes development more effective and efficient, allowing Technicolor to spend less time focusing on basic features and more time creating innovative services and adding customer value. “The development tools we get with Android are more advanced than what we were used to previously in our industry,” says Gaëtan. “This enables us to innovate at a faster pace and to easily bring new ideas to our products.” Gaëtan is convinced that Android will be a big part of Technicolor’s success in the future. “For us, it’s about giving your television screen the same capability as any screen in your home,” he says. “We are moving faster than anyone when it comes to developing set-top boxes with Android, which will help us reach the top position in our industry.”