Technical Notes

Clock Device for Packet Based Network Synchronization

TN160107TD
Over view
With the universal deployment of Ethernet, ‘circuit switched networks’ have been shifting to new ‘packet switched

networks’. Former voice telephony (PST: public switch telephone) is based on frequency synchronization. However,
packet switched networks are inherently asynchronous; timing control technology is required to transfer voice, TDM
(time division modulation) data through packed based network. Currently, there are two main solutions.
1) Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE: frequency synchronization type), 2) IEEE1588 (timing synchronization type).

Epson provides the oscillation devices that sustain the basic and indispensable technology for packed based network.
High performance timing devices are especially important for lower PDV (packet delay variation) feature, and backup
function during timing network outage. Thus Wander (MTIE,TDEV ,Holdover specifications are important
specifications.

This application note explains Epson’s basic products deployment.

Timing Synchronization
Fig1 shows a typical mobile network. PRC (Primary Reference Clock) is the master clock of this system. For proper

system operation, the timing information of PRC should be transmitted through the network to edge Macro-cell Base
Station A and B, Small-cell Base Station A and B. Previous synchronization methods SONET/SDH can only transmit

frequency information. However, packed based networks (Figure 1 EEC: Ethernet Equipment Clock) are inherently
asynchronous. To synchronize through an asynchronous network, two solutions are proposed from ITU-T.

1) Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) 2) IEEE1588. The next clause explains these two solutions.

Figure 1: A typical mobile network

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 Technical Notes

Ethernet vs SyncE vs IEEE1588

SyncE transmits frequency (through PHY layer), IEEE1588 transmits time (through protocol layer) .)

(See Table 1, Figure 2,3,4)

Table 1: Ethernet vs SyncE vs IEEE1588

type Sync/Async layer Oscillator (on node) Main specification

Ethernet Asynchronous +/-100pp

SyncE Synchronous frequency Physical EEC compatible Frequency stability

IEEE1588 Synchronous frequency Protocol Stratum3 Compatible MTIE TDEV Holdover

time (PTP) Stratum3E compatible

Packet Data Packet Data

Packet Data Ethernet PHY Ethernet PHY Ethernet PHY Packet Data

±100ppm clock ±100ppm clock ±100ppm clock

Figure 2 Ethernet

Ethernet (Figure 2) does not transmit timing information. Asynchronous network.

Packet Data + Physical Clock Packet Data + Physical Clock

Packet Data
Packet Data Ethernet PHY Ethernet PHY Ethernet PHY
Recovered Clock

PRC Traceable Reference

EEC EEC EEC

Figure 3 Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE)

PRC frequency signal can be transmitted to lower( right side) nodes through Ethernet PHY which have EEC(Ethernet
Equipment Clock) with CDR function (CRD: clock data recovery). All Nodes should be equipped with EEC devices.
SyncE can transmit frequency only, not time .PRC and final destination Node have the same frequency. (Frequency
Synchronized).

(EEC Ethernet Equipment Clock . The standard (ITU-T G.8261 Option1,2) compatible clock.

Packet Data + Timing Packet Packet Data + Timing Packet

Packet Data Ethernet PHY Ethernet PHY Ethernet PHY Packet Data

PRC Traceable Reference PTP IEEE1588 PTP IEEE1588 Recovered Clock

±100ppm ±100ppm ±100ppm

Figure 4 IEEE1588

TCXO/OCXO

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IEEE1588 (Figure 4) transmits frequency and time information from PRTC to target Node by protocol layer
(basically PTP Precision Timing Protocol .The target Node has the same time and frequency. This is

timing synchronization. All Nodes may be equipped with normal Ethernet Clock. The final Node should be equipped
with high stability oscillators (ex. TCXO, OCXO) to reduce PDV and provide redundant function (backup clock during
timing signal interruption.).

3. Standards for solutions

Worldwide standards (ex. ITU-T etc.) are published for synchronization solutions. (see Table 2)
Table 2 Standards for synchronization solutions

solution Layer Network Equipment, Clock Standard

Standard

SONET/SDH PHY frequency ITU-T G.825 ITU-T G.813 Option 2 *2

(L1) SEC: SONET/SDH Equipment slave Clock

Telcordia GR-1244CORE Stratum3

SyncE PHY phase ITU-T G.8261 ITU-T G.8262 Option 1,2 *2

(L1) EEC: Ethernet Equipment Clock

Telcordia GR-1244CORE

PEC (Frequency) Protocol frequency ITU-T G.8261 ITU-T G.8263 *3

(L2~3) Packet based Equipment Clock

Telcordia GR-1244CORE

PEC Protocol Time ITU-T G.8271 ITU-T G.8273 *3

(Phase/Time) *1 (L2~3) Telecom Boundary Clock

Note
*1 IEEE1588 : PEC(Phase/Time)

*2 ITU-T has published standards.

*3 ITU-T has not finalized standards for PEC solutions.

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 Technical Notes

From these standards, two main tiers of oscillator devices are used:

(Based on Telcordia Stratum

<Telcordia GR-1244Core Stratum3 / G.812 Option 2 (SONET/SDH Equipment Clock) / G.8262 Option 2 >
- Frequency Accuracy +/-4.6ppm (20 years)

- Frequency Stability +/-300ppb (1day)

- Frequency Drift +/-40ppb (1day constant temp.)
- MTIE, TDEV, Holdover refer to each standards.

<Telcordia GR-1244Core Stratum3E / G.812 Typ3 >

- Frequency Accuracy +/-4.6ppm (20 years)
- Frequency Stability +/-10ppb (1day)
- Frequency Drift +/-1ppb (1day constant temp.)

- MTIE, TDEV, Holdover refer to each standards.

4. Epson product strategy

To meet these two levels of performance, Epson has several oscillator options:

Standard Product Products Series

Stratum3 TCXO TG-5500 series, TG5032 series

Stratum3E OCXO OG2525 series, OG2522series, OG1409 series

Epson will provide these products application notes consequently.