Global semiconductor company Microchip Technology has achieved sub-nanosecond time accuracy through a long-distance optical network of up to 800 km without GNSS.

Microchip has launched the 'TimeProvider® 4500 v3 Grandmaster Clock (TP4500)', a high-precision timing solution that can reduce reliance on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure.

This product provides sub-nanosecond time accuracy through long-distance optical networks of up to 800 km and supports stable time synchronization in various fields such as telecommunications, utilities, transportation, and defense industries.

The TP4500 enables stable time transmission even in environments where GNSS is unavailable or issues such as security or interference may occur.

It is a premium grandmaster that achieves high-precision synchronization based on UTC(k) provided by national standards research institutes without GNSS, and is the first to support the HA-TT (High Accuracy Time Transfer) function defined in ITU-T G.8271.1.

Based on 10 nodes, it achieves an average time latency of 500 picoseconds (ps), which is 800kIt means precision at the level of 5 nanoseconds (ns) in the m interval.

The TP4500 can configure a virtual Primary Reference Time Clock (vPRTC) architecture through various operation modes.

This is a carrier-grade terrestrial-based time allocation structure that is being applied to major telecommunication networks worldwide.

It overcomes the limitations of existing GNSS-based PNT (Positioning, Navigation, Timing) systems and is evaluated as an excellent alternative in terms of technological maturity and cost efficiency.

The TP4500 is equipped with PolarFire® FPGAs and Azurite synthesizers to achieve excellent precision and enables seamless integration with standards-based terrestrial networks and commercial SFP and Ethernet/optical equipment.

In addition, it supports the cnPRTC (coherent network reference time clock) defined in the ITU-T G.8272.2 standard revised in 2024, providing a consistent time standard across the communication network.

The TP4500 is currently available in mass production quantities, and inquiries can be made through authorized Microchip distributors or representatives. As a scalable solution that meets the time synchronization requirements of critical infrastructure in the telecommunications, power, transportation, government, and defense sectors, it is widely applicable from 5G networks to low-density indoor applications.