Introduction:

For decades, Building Integrated Timing Supply (BITS) clocks have been the reliable workhorses of synchronization for SONET/SDH networks. As the foundation of TDM-based services, they provided the essential frequency sync that kept your network stable. However, as rural and community broadband providers embrace packet-based networks (like Carrier Ethernet and IP/MPLS) to deliver next-generation services, these legacy BITS systems are becoming a significant operational risk.

This isn’t just about replacing old equipment; it’s about re-architecting your timing foundation to meet the demands of a modern, all-IP world. Continuing to rely on aging BITS clocks without a clear modernization strategy can lead to network instability, service degradation, and an inability to support new, revenue-generating applications.

The Challenge: Why Legacy BITS Systems Fall Short in Modern Networks

Legacy BITS clocks were designed for a different era. While robust for TDM frequency, they face several critical limitations in today’s packet-centric environment:

• Lack of Phase & Time Support: BITS systems were built for frequency (syntonization), not phase or Time of Day (ToD) synchronization. Modern services, especially those related to 5G fixed wireless or advanced mobile backhaul, require precise phase alignment (<1.5µs), which BITS clocks simply cannot provide.

• End-of-Life & Support Gaps: Many legacy BITS platforms, like the Symmetricom/Microchip SSU-2000, are now considered end-of-life. This means diminishing availability of spare parts, fewer technicians with legacy expertise, and a lack of software updates, increasing your maintenance costs and downtime risk.

• Operational Complexity: Managing a separate, overlay TDM timing network alongside your primary packet network is inefficient. It requires separate skill sets, complex troubleshooting paths, and adds a layer of complexity that modern, integrated timing solutions eliminate.

• Inability to Scale: As you add more packet-based services and expand your network, the BITS architecture becomes a bottleneck. It was not designed to scale or provide the distributed, precise timing that modern network topologies demand.

The Solution: A Strategic Path to BITS Modernization

Modernizing your BITS infrastructure isn’t a “rip and replace” nightmare. It’s a strategic process that can be managed in phases to protect your investment and ensure a seamless transition. The goal is to migrate to a modern timing architecture based on Precision Time Protocol (PTP/IEEE 1588) and robust GNSS-based Primary Reference Time Clocks (PRTCs).

• Step 1: The Overlay & Integration Phase: The first step is often to install a modern PTP Grandmaster, such as the Microchip TimeProvider 4100 or 4500, as an overlay. This new clock can serve as the primary reference (PRTC) for your packet network while simultaneously feeding a stable, traceable E1/T1/CC signal to your existing BITS clock. This immediately improves the accuracy of your legacy system and introduces PTP capabilities to your network without disrupting existing services.

• Step 2: The Service Migration Phase: Once the PTP Grandmaster is established as the network’s source of truth, you can begin migrating services. New packet-based equipment is synchronized directly via PTP. For remaining TDM circuits, dedicated output ports from the new Grandmaster, often using expansion shelves like the Microchip XT Panel, can directly replace the BITS clock outputs. This allows for a controlled, circuit-by-circuit migration.

• Step 3: The Decommissioning Phase: After all services have been migrated to the new timing platform, the legacy BITS clock can be safely decommissioned. This reduces your network’s physical footprint, lowers power consumption, and eliminates the operational burden of maintaining end-of-life equipment.

How Syncworks Can Help: Your Partner in Legacy Modernization

Navigating a BITS modernization project requires deep expertise in both legacy TDM timing and modern packet synchronization. This is where Syncworks excels. With decades of experience performing thousands of successful cutovers for major US carriers and community broadband providers, we ensure a seamless and risk-free transition.

• Assessment & Design: We start by auditing your existing BITS infrastructure and designing a phased modernization plan tailored to your network, budget, and operational needs.

• Expert Deployment: Our field service technicians manage the entire process, from installing the new PTP Grandmaster to performing the lead-by-lead cutover from your legacy BITS outputs to the new system, all while following meticulous Methods of Procedure (MOPs).

• Full Lifecycle Support: Beyond the installation, our SyncCare technical support provides ongoing assistance, while our training programs empower your team to confidently manage your new, state-of-the-art timing infrastructure.

Don’t let your legacy timing system become a liability. Partner with Syncworks to modernize your BITS infrastructure and build a reliable, scalable, and future-proof synchronization network.

Contact us today for a complimentary BITS Modernization Assessment.