20 years of SBC - Interview with CEO Dominik Müller

Swisscom Broadcast has been guaranteeing reliable connections for 20 years. However, a lot has changed since 2002. Dominik Müller, what was the focus in these early days?

"Our roots go back to the PTT era. Since the 1950s, the main task was to transmit radio and television signals to households. Transmitting antennas were therefore built at prominent locations throughout Switzerland, bringing the signals from the studio into domestic living rooms. In our comfortable position as a monopolist, the focus was on reliable connections and interference-free operation. Over the years, however, our business has changed significantly. We have reinvented ourselves from the ground up."

Old transmission tower on the Bantiger in 1954

How did you achieve this? 

"We first asked ourselves, what are we really good at? And who can benefit from it? The answer was obvious: we guarantee reliable connections – in every situation. This is particularly important for customers that require security of supply, such as the police corps, Rega air rescue service or mountain rail and cable cars. But the events sector also needs reliable transmissions, so we expanded our portfolio accordingly: we added Polycom services for the emergency services, private radio, video surveillance, event ICT and drone defence – and we continue to evolve. We are currently testing an emergency radio network that enables companies to communicate reliably even in the event of prolonged power outages." 

It sounds like you’re becoming a jack of all trades...

"I call it differentiation. Nevertheless, all our products and services have a common focus: reliable connections for customers with high security requirements. This is our area of expertise and we’re sticking to it. "

How did employees react to this change?

"Mostly positively. Most Swisscom Broadcast employees appreciate that the old times are over and that we have to operate as an agile SME to survive in the market. This includes making the most of digitisation; both with better services for our customers and with improved internal processes. What I see are motivated employees who are seizing these opportunities and want to actively shape change. It is fine to express nostalgia once in a while, as long as we stay focused on the future."  

So, digitisation has been the biggest influencing factor in recent years. What about in the future – where will you spend most of your efforts, do you think?   

"Digitisation will remain the main focus of our efforts, because it is far from complete. Sometimes, it feels like new technologies are coming onto the market every six months. These will continue to keep us on our toes; after all, we want to benefit from them on the ground. Of course, we are also very concerned about global developments, such as power shortages or supply issues."   

How do you view the transition from USW to digital radio? Will it have a major impact on Swisscom Broadcast?  

"Yes, this will be another milestone in our history. But the switch-off of DVB-T in 2019 proved to be an important learning experience for us, from a cultural perspective too. I am therefore not afraid of this transition." 

«In all honesty, I can’t imagine a more interesting job»

Dominik Müller, CEO Swisscom Broadcast

In your opinion, what makes Swisscom Broadcast unique?  

"We are an SME with close ties to a large corporation. This gives us both the agility we need to operate successfully on the market as well as reassuring stability. It is a combination that is rare in Switzerland. We have also proven time and again in recent years that we can respond dynamically to fluctuating market conditions. We gained a foothold in new industries relatively quickly and made a name for ourselves. Take, for example, the events sector, in which we broadcast football matches or business meetings all over the world. We also established video surveillance and analysis on the market in a short time. Following the acquisition of Audio-Video G+M, our aim is to become the Swiss number 1 in this area."  

What personal connection do you have to Swisscom Broadcast?  

"Being from Ostermundigen, the Bantiger transmitter location features large in many childhood memories. When I was about ten years old, my class went on a night-time hike to watch the sunrise on the Bantiger. I remember the long walk by torchlight. Perhaps more importantly, I could see the mast from my childhood bedroom. I remember when the new mast was built and the old one was gradually dismantled. The transmitting antenna fascinated me even as a boy. At the time, I never dreamed that I would one day be at the head of the company responsible for the Bantiger mast." 

Is that a good feeling?  

"The best! Our business still stirs up strong emotions in me. We are at the interface between old and stable technology, such as radio broadcasting or radio relay, and ultra-modern, rapidly developing technologies, such as video surveillance, artificial intelligence or streaming broadcasts. My job is to juggle all the balls in the centre of this dichotomy."   

Dominik Müller, CEO

Dominik Müller from Bern has a degree in Electrical Engineering. Since assuming the role of CEO in November 2019, he has guided Swisscom Broadcast on its journey of digital transformation. He strives to realise the full potential of the latest technologies in order to inspire customers and open up new business opportunities. Dominik Müller joined Swisscom Broadcast Ltd in 2009 as the Head of Product Management. He was appointed to the role of COO in 2015. 

You can find more about our 20th anniversary in our chronicle(opens in new tab).
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