ENGINEERING

Presentation Highlights Technical Challenges and Solutions When Distributing SLA-Based Timing to the Radio Access Network

ADVA Optical Networking is presenting at the 2013 Telcordia NIST-ATIS Workshop on Synchronization in Telecommunication Systems (NIST/WSTS), on April 18, in San Jose, California. Sponsored by NIST, Telcordia and ATIS-COAST, WSTS'13 provides a forum for high-level discussion and knowledge sharing among synchronization experts.

Gil Biran, Senior Vice President Corporate Development and Strategy, ADVA Optical Networking, will discuss the importance of SLA-based timing distribution and assurance in mobile backhaul networks for LTE and LTE-A. This presentation includes updates on the latest sync probe technology and details why performance-assured synchronization has developed to be a central element in high-performance mobile networks.

“The quality of timing and synchronization that you deliver over your packet backhaul network has a significant impact on the quality of experience of mobile services,” says Biran. “Whether it’s SyncE or IEEE 1588v2 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) – timing delivery is only one part of the equation. End-to-end accuracy assurance with real-time monitoring, alarming and advanced trouble shooting is the real key to enable stable operation of the Radio Access Network (RAN). Without that assurance, operators will find it difficult to capitalize on today’s booming mobile broadband environment.”

The industry agrees that phase synchronization over packet networks is difficult to achieve with the tight constraints imposed by LTE-A. Since superior user experience became a key differentiator in many saturated markets, mobile operators are increasingly worried about the performance of their synchronization solution. The targeted 500ns phase accuracy requires both, the mobile network operator and the backhaul service provider, to actively contribute to timing distribution. On-path support and in-service monitoring are key elements for a reliable and scalable end-to-end synchronization architecture.

“Phase synchronization is the lifeline of the future RAN,” continues Biran, “and progress on the engineering front has been phenomenal: Today, timing can be distributed and assured throughout a network over existing packet infrastructure. With next-generation demarcation, aggregation and probe devices, timing performance can be continuously monitored in-service and alarmed if needed. This synchronization management solution empowers operators to ensure accurate timing distribution at lowest cost of ownership.”