There is a pressing need to distribute accurate timing, i.e., frequency and/or Time of Day (ToD), across Packet Switched Networks (PSNs) for applications such as cellular backhaul. This paper reviews the main issues involved in timing over packet (ToP) demarcation and provides best practices for ToP demarcation and performance monitoring.
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Timing over packet demarcation
1. White Paper
Timing over Packet
Demarcation
An Innovative Approach to
Synchronization Performance Monitoring
in Packet Networks
Alon Geva, Advanced Technologies Manager
Yaakov Stein, Chief Scientist
RAD Data Communications
The Access Company
2.
3. Abstract
There is a pressing need to distribute accurate timing, i.e., frequency and/or
Time of Day (ToD), across Packet Switched Networks (PSNs) for applications
such as cellular backhaul. Highly accurate delivery of timing over PSNs is
challenging, due to their asynchronous nature and the need to overcome
impediments, such Packet Delay Variation (PDV). This challenge increases for
operators leasing transport services from carriers, as operators have little
control over the timing packets as they traverse the carrier’s network and, as
a result, timing recovery accuracy cannot be guaranteed. While Ethernet OAM
and performance monitoring tools are available for carriers and wholesale
provides, no such demarcation functionality is presently defined specifically
for the timing distribution service.
This paper reviews the main issues involved in timing over packet (ToP)
demarcation and provides best practices for ToP demarcation and
performance monitoring.