Saltaire-based digital giant Pace has landed a deal to supply 90,000 set-top boxes to Latin America.

The contract with Novavision will see the Bradford firm delivering the digital satellite 'Worldboxes' to the region over the next 12 months.

A joint venture between Groupo Televisa and global satellite provider NewsCorporation, Novavision has more than 680,000 paying subscribers and a 70 per cent market share in the region.

Created in 1996, when Pace first began working with Novavision on delivering a digital satellite TV service, the device offers customers more than 165 channels, Internet access and a pay-per-view service.

Pace has launched the product in Latin America - including Brazil, Colombia and Chile - and Israel and New Zealand.

President of Pace Micro Technology Americas, Neil Gaydon, said: "The Latin American market is a very important one to Pace, and Mexico is the largest digital satellite market in Latin America. We launched with Novavision in 1996, and we're pleased to continue our relationship with them.

"The Worldbox has proved successful in other markets and our success with this and other products has resulted in Pace becoming the largest global supplier to NewsCorporation."

Set up in 1982, Pace employs around 850 staff at its head office in Saltaire, despite shedding 470 manufacturing jobs earlier this year. A spokesman said: "This is a major deal with a global satellite supplier, and it's a great boost for everyone at Saltaire and throughout the company.

"It shows that despite the problems in the market at the moment we are still winning substantial orders against stiff competition.

"Pace has worked very closely with Novavision before on developing exactly the kind of technology they needed, and I think that gave us a strong advantage."