How can the technical and political challenges of a country-wide broadband development in Germany be addressed? 35 BREKO members met at ELCON Systemtechnik to find the right answers to this question, and to discuss latest trends in the telecommunications industry. High on the agenda were topics like the deployment right within the so-called nearby area (with a radius of about 550 meters from the main distributor) using VDSL-Vectoring, and cost-efficient technical solutions for the exploration of the „last mile“.
The quarterly sessions of the Technical Working Group provide a permanent platform to exchange experiences between network operators and manufacturers of telecom products. ELCON has been a BREKO member since 2013 and supports the association with its technical expertise. Dr. Stephan Albers, Managing Director of the BREKO, unterlines: „The meetings of the Technical Working Group thrive on the practical expertise of our members. As association it is our intention to promote communication and synergy effects between manufacturers and network operators.“
In 2015 the 200 companies associated in the BREKO have planned to connect about 10,500 cable junction boxes via optical fibre, and to provide around 400,000 FTTB/H-accesses throughout Germany. BREKO, which represents the majority of competitors of Deutsche Telekom AG, thus makes a substantial contribution to the nation-wide broadband expansion in Germany.
Valuable practical know-how to the main topic at the event was presented by Oliver Graf, Team Leader Network Planning at KEVAG Telekom, a network operator from Koblenz. In his speech he pointed to the experience KEVAG had gained with VDSL-Vectoring. „We are very pleased with the results of our first big rollouts. In the future we will continue to invest in the Vectoring technology“, said Graf.
Matthias Nass, Vice President Marketing at ELCON, introduced two solutions that are perfectly suited for the cost-efficient exploration of the „last mile“. „With ELCON´s Remote Power System up to 40% of the investment costs for a fibre access rollout can be saved. This is an advantage that can become decisive as cost factor particularly in rural regions“, affirmed Nass. With the BIG 55 ELCON offers ISDN customers a favourably-priced solution for the migration to All-IP-structures. By this means proven ISDN equipment can be further used in IP-networks – there is no need to invest in a new telephone system.
Both for ELCON and for BREKO the event was a full success. After productive meetings the organising company showed its ultra-modern manufacturing line. New partnerships were established and new projects could be generated. Frank Brech, Head of the Technical Working Group, summed up the day at ELCON as follows: “Exciting topics, a full house, and a perfect host.“