From left: Yusuf Kıraç, Türk Telekom chief technology officer, and Net Insight CEO Crister Fritzson. (Photo: Türk Telekom)
Türk Telekom is using specialized GPS/GNSS-independent technology to provide critical time and frequency synchronization in its 5G network.
The technology — developed by Türk Telekom engineers with Net Insight — is expected to significantly reduce synchronization investment costs and increase service continuity in 5G. The companies did not reveal the details of their technology.
Türk Telekom, the pioneer of digital transformation in Türkiye, continues its efforts to shape the future with 5G and new generation technologies. Türk Telekom became the first operator in the world to implement the “Time Synchronization Transmission Solution,” implemented in cooperation with Net Insight, one of the world’s leading technology companies, on its network. This solution, which is the patented technology developed by Türk Telekom and Net Insight, will provide strategic superiority in network technologies.
Minimum end-to-end deviation throughout Turkey
The testing process of the GPS/GNSS-independent stable synchronization service for 5G has been successfully completed. Türk Telekom, which has installed the system at 20 locations in Turkey, will have a central synchronization network with high time accuracy, and will be able to offer synchronization service to 5G base stations.
While the highest time deviation value for 5G is 1,500 nanoseconds, the deviation value was measured at 5–45 nanoseconds in two different regions of Türkiye, according to the first data obtained from the Türk Telekom live network. The values revealed that sensitive time and synchronization information can be carried from Edirne to Hakkari, the entire length of Türkiye, with minimum deviation regardless of network equipment.
Solution to increase efficiency and save resources
“We became the first operator to implement the next-generation synchronization solution, developed together with Net Insight and leveraging patents of Turkish engineers, which is critical for 5G and beyond technologies on the live network,” said Yusuf Kıraç, Türk Telekom chief technology officer. “We see a significant potential in the global market for this innovative solution that will reduce costs and increase service continuity for mobile operators and all industries with critical time synchronization requirements.
“We can meet all these needs with this solution, which has a time deviation far below 1,500 nanosecond required for the synchronization need of 5G,” Kıraç continued. “We are proud to develop new satellite-independent solutions for operators and standardization organizations in the world.”
“We believe that this solution, which is operated on the Türk Telekom network for the first time in the world, will break new ground in 5G and have a high and significant market potential on a global scale,” said Net Insight CEO Crister Fritzson.
Important step for 5G and beyond
The new-generation time synchronization solution, which is not depending on GPS/GNSS satellites, offers unique advantages for transmitting phase and time synchronization over the network without the need to replace or update existing network equipment. With this technology, a fundamental solution to GPS/GNSS satellites’ signal interruptions and service losses — one of the biggest needs of operators who have switched to 5G — will be met, the companies said.
At the same time, the synchronization needs of 6G technologies — planned to begin global standardization studies in 2025 — will be met with the same solution.
The patented technology will be produced and marketed all over the world and will provide solutions for sectors such as telecommunications, energy and finance.