Since its launch in 1992, the high-tech local employer has grown from employing four people twenty years ago to 126 people today, and in the process has become a globally-recognized leader in miniaturized hearing and communication technology. Its systems are used for example in sports (Alinghi team 2003), in aviation, for guided museum tours and by security personnel.

Phonak Communications AG, a subsidiary of the Sonova Group and a sister company of Phonak – the world’s hearing aid leader - is celebrating 20 years of business success since its founding in Murten back in 1992.

The company began life when a small team of engineers created the MicroVox personal FM  transmitter for hearing impaired customers. Since that date the firm has employed its ever-growing acoustic expertise to enable hundreds of thousands of people around the world to better hear and understand speech in loud noise and over distance. By now there are 126 employees.

“From our knowledge and development center on the outskirts of Murten we have enjoyed 20 years of continual business growth, expanding our reach from the pure hearing market into a wide range of interesting verticals– from security to heavy industry and more recently aviation,” said Evert Dijkstra, Managing Director of Phonak Communications. “We attribute this success to two key factors – a continuous investment in research and development, and the dedication of our people. We feel very fortunate to call Murten our home, as from here we are able to recruit from a large pool of talented engineers, thanks in part to nearby technical universities in Neuchâtel and Lausanne, plus we are surrounded by the many excellent miniaturized component suppliers that grew up supplying to the region’s watch manufacturers, and we have excellent access to the rest of mainland Europe.”

Wide and innovative range of products

Today Phonak Communications develops and distributes a wide range of miniaturized hearing and communication systems to customers in Switzerland and across the globe. These Phonak users include:

• Children and adults with a hearing loss – who use Phonak wireless ‘FM’ systems alongside their hearing aids to better understand speech and therefore enjoy enhanced communication

• Gotthard Tunnel builders – who employ Serenity intelligent hearing protection systems to protect their ears from dangerous noise while retaining effective radio communication

• Pilots – who employ FreeCom aviation headsets to ensure the comfort and accuracy of in-flight radio communications

• Tourist and corporate sites – who choose Phonak’s guide-U audio tour guiding solution to help visitors hear and get the most from their guided tours

• Covert security professionals – who wear a discrete Phonak earpiece in their ear to ensure they can communicate effectively without being seen and comprising the mission.

Highly attractive growth prospects

Looking ahead, Dijkstra predicts that the company’s near-term growth will come from three sectors. “We expect continued strong growth in our hearing business, as hearing aid users and others increasingly recognize the speech understanding benefits our wireless FM technology offers. Our Dynamic SoundField room amplification system will also continue to build on its success since its global launch in late 2010, and our new line of ultra-light FreeCom aviation headsets is already garnering very positive praise. This will all be driven by the knowledge and expertise our team has built here in Murten,” he explains.

About Phonak Communications AG 

Phonak Communications AG, a subsidiary of the Sonova Group, has been specializing in the development, design, production and distribution worldwide of ultra miniaturized wireless systems since 1992. By combining its expertise in hearing technology with ongoing research at the highest level, Phonak Communications AG has succeeded in making substantial advances in the field of wireless communication systems from its development and production base in Switzerland. 

Matthew Wade 
Tel:+41(0)26 672 92 85 
Fax:+41(0)26 672 33 44 
Email: matthew.wade@anti-clutterphonak.com

Phonak Communications AG 
Länggasse 17 
CH - 3280 Murten 
Tel: +41 (0)26 672 96 72 
Fax: +41 (0)26 672 96 77

Phonak – Life is on 

We are sensitive to the needs of everyone who depends on our knowledge, ideas and care. And by creatively challenging the limits of technology, we develop innovations that help people hear, understand and experience more of life’s rich soundscapes. 

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