UTC Traceable Time For All
Precise timing is essential to national security, especially in the face of growing cybersecurity threats. As Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) becomes more vulnerable to cyberattacks, having an alternative time system is no longer just a scientific requirement but a matter of national security. For countries without their own GNSS systems, owning and operating time scale systems aligned with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) within their borders has become a crucial element of cybersecurity strategy. Syncworks’ unique ability to provide turnkey installation for timing systems includes a complete solution that safeguards critical infrastructure from disruptions to GNSS.
UTC, the global standard for time, underpins the synchronized transmission of frequency and timing signals. It is based on International Atomic Time (TAI), an average of over 300 atomic clocks from metrology labs around the world. Syncworks supports this global timekeeping network with our expertise and installation of systems like the 5071A Cesium Frequency Standard, the most widely used clock in TAI-contributing labs.
Though UTC is based on TAI, it adjusts periodically to account for Earth’s rotational variations, ensuring synchronization with astronomical events. This makes UTC the universal standard for timekeeping, used in both general and specialized applications.
The Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) is responsible for managing UTC, working alongside global laboratories to ensure synchronization. Each lab maintains a local realization of UTC known as UTC(k), with “k” representing the lab or country. BIPM regularly publishes data comparing UTC with UTC(k), enabling labs to adjust their time scales to ensure that they remain synchronized to within just a few nanoseconds of each other.
National Time Scale: Shielding Critical Infrastructure from Timing Vulnerabilities
Syncworks’ turnkey installation services extend to providing Precise Time Scale Systems (PTSS), allowing countries to independently control their time sources. For nations without the resources to maintain their own GNSS constellations, deploying PTSS on their own soil is a powerful defense against GNSS-related timing disruptions. Our systems deliver industry-leading frequency stability, phase noise reduction, and operational reliability, making them the ideal choice for protecting critical infrastructure.
National Metrology Laboratories and UTC(k) Realization
National metrology laboratories play a key role in maintaining a country’s timekeeping standards, with many contributing to UTC through BIPM. Syncworks supports these efforts by installing advanced time scale systems that meet the rigorous demands of national labs. A country’s local time scale, known as UTC(k), is constantly compared to UTC using data published by BIPM. This ensures that UTC(k) stays closely synchronized with UTC, thanks to the precision of atomic clocks like those used in Syncworks’ turnkey solutions.
About Us Syncworks
Syncworks is a value-added stocking reseller of network sync and timing equipment for critical infrastructure companies. SyncCare and Field Services ensure your network equipment is flawlessly executed and supported. Our DC Power services ensure that the power is always on.
As a Microchip Diamond Partner, we maintain the largest and most diversified stocking supply of Microchip network sync & timing products to meet our customers’ every need when it comes to sync and timing technology.