The TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster supports very high-capacity Precision Time Protocol (PTP) transactions. This innovative hardware platform delivers the highest IEEE-1588 scalability for thousands of customers. In network areas where range and capacity must be balanced, such as in 5G C-band networks, it is essential to cover thousands of gNodeBs from a single grandmaster. Depending on the location, the grandmaster could cover a few thousand or a large number of gNodeB base stations. As a result, operators can deploy networks of any size cost-effectively and flexibly.
The TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster offers the flexibility to connect to multiple generations of network elements, helping to protect operators' infrastructure investments. The TimeProvider 4500 clock is the first 1588 grandmaster capable of achieving 25 Gbps. A customer can connect the TimeProvider 4500 clock to various network devices via 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, or 25 Gbps network links. High-speed bandwidth is critical as network elements need to be upgraded to accommodate equipment requiring a minimum of 10 Gbps and, in some cases, up to 100 Gbps.
The extremely high accuracy of the TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster is even more important as operators attempt to deploy alternative solutions to GNSS.
A terrestrial option is often considered an attractive solution that can leverage existing optical networks to avoid reliance on GNSS, thus providing a cost-effective way to transmit highly accurate time over long distances. The need for long-distance transmissions translates into a demand for ever-increasing accuracy at the source and for regenerating the time signal.
The TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster incorporates new hardware improvements, including Microchip's latest generation PolarFire® digital synthesizer and FPGA SoC. These platform enhancements allow the system to achieve picosecond accuracy.
“Microchip continues to develop new and innovative time and frequency solutions for critical infrastructure. We designed the TimeProvider 4500 clock to provide more accurate synchronization in existing optical network environments without the need for costly upgrades or dark fiber,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice president of Microchip’s Time and Frequency Systems business unit. “This solution is also the first grandmaster with high-speed data processing up to 25 Gbps, enabling it to connect to the newest network elements.”
The advanced hardware platform of the TimeProvider 4500 clock supports all the features of the TimeProvider 4100 clock, ensuring that operators installing the new product can also benefit from their investments in the TimeProvider 4100 series. The TP4500 adds new features to those of the TP4100 thanks to its enhanced hardware platform.
The TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster is integrated with the TimePictra® synchronization management solution, enabling operators to monitor and track issues and threats in real time with visibility across their entire network. Other key features of the TimePictra platform include comprehensive FCAPS (Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security) management capabilities; geographic topology and domain navigation; customizable user preferences; and an intuitive web-based graphical user interface for easy management, among others.
The TimeProvider 4500 is the latest addition to Microchip's lineup of grandmaster clocks for IEEE-1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP), delivering the highest levels of performance and value on the market. These field-proven solutions meet the requirements of everything from low-density indoor applications to high-capacity 5G network synchronization.
