Engineering "know-how" for multimedia-age Telecommunications:
ECHO Broadband, with German headquarters in Bonn, upgrades the TV cable net in NRW ( North-Rhine-Westphalia) and Baden-Württemberg - 123 employees from 14 nations are planning the new structure.
by Claudia Mahnke

Bonn. Electronic program guides, a choice of movies, online games on the TV screen, phone connections through the TV-cable: The technical upgrade of the broadband cable network from 450 to 862 MHZ is a breakthrough for the multi media age in Germany, straight into the living rooms. Currently broadband cable providers are investing billions in order to press ahead the upgrade of the communication channels. The redesign of the networks is already in full swing in North-Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg. The broadband cable provider ISH has awarded the contract to ECHO Broadband GmbH for collaboration in the planning and implementation of the cable network.

"The work in both federal states is being carried out simultaneously", David Loehden, Managing Director and one of the three founders of Echo Broadband explains.

During the technical upgrade, the TV cable network will be redesigned. This will enable customers to not only receive data but also to send data. At the moment, the network architecture resembles a tree. In future, a circular architecture will form the backbone. The employees of ECHO Broadband plan cable routing, which cables should be upgraded, and where new ones must be installed.

ECHO Broadband specializes in broadband cable network solutions. One and a half years ago, it established a design technology center on the premises of the Graurheindorfer Auermühle in the commercial harbor area of Bonn. Proximity to the contractor ensures smooth communications: ISH also maintains a Technology Center in the same building in the Karl-Legien-Street.

In the meantime, 123 employees with 14 different nationalities work for Echo Broadband in Graurheindorf. These include also five green-card employees who, according to legal regulations, are able work in Germany for a limited time of five years. "During working hours, we speak English as well as German" says Tony Lye, who, as Financial Controller, is responsible for financial management.

Among the employees are 37% engineers and 36% traders(*), as well as many technicians and geographers, explains Achim Hollitzer, who is the Senior Manager for Network Technology and Design. The team is rather young, with an average age between 26 and 27. For most of the employees the company is a constant after only 1 ½ years. " We have hardly any employee fluctuation."

ECHO is a joint enterprise between Keppel Communications, a technology company in Singapore, and ECHO LLC, which was founded in the United States by private investors,. "We also have offices in the USA, the Philippines, Luxemburg and Malaysia" David Loehden says. The headquarters of the holding is located in Singapore. The company has a total of 240 employees, who last year achieved a turnover of 42 Million Euro.

The Managing Director intends to continue adding staff during 2002. "In 2000, when we started up, it was very difficult to find qualified personnel" David Loehden explains. In the meantime, the situation has improved and the company has profited from the deterioration in the labor market situation.