Saltaire digital television giant Pace is looking to move into emerging markets in the east as the demand for set top boxes continues to grow.

The firm, which has seen its fortunes improve in the last 12 months, has targeted two key exhibitions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East in its hunt for new business.

And today Mike Tometski, Pace's head of product

management, said he was confident there were opportunities in the region, particularly for lower-spec equipment.

Pace has already won deals with world-leading satellite broadcasters such as Foxtel in Australia, Viasat in Scandinavia and Sky Italia in Italy, to deliver cost-effective free-to-air digital TV.

Mr Tometski said: "We see the Middle East and Eastern Europe as a real growth area because the are a lot of operators starting to emerge t there.

"This region is becoming more important, particularly with the restructuring of all the infrastructure, the political changes and the new markets that are opening up.

"We are seeing a lot more opportunities out there. There is a lot more interest in Pace and many of these companies are actually coming to us. We are starting to get some good wins in the region."

Mr Tometski said many of the satellite and cable infrastructures needed for digital television were already in place and interest was beginning to pick up. He said the firm's lower cost range of products was likely to prove particularly successful in Eastern Europe.

Pace will be exhibiting some of its ground breaking technology at the conferences, including set-top boxes which enable viewers to record without video tapes and pause and fast forward live TV.