ITOCHU Cable Systems broadens its network-based, GNSS-resilient time synchronisation trials as Japan evolves toward 5GA/5.5G, using Net Insight’s Precision TimeNet overlay services.
The momentum for resilient, network-based timing continues to build across the Asia-Pacific region, where Japan stands out as one of the most advanced and strategic markets for mobile and critical infrastructure. Japanese operators are prioritising timing accuracy, resilience and operational simplicity as they evolve toward 5G-Advanced/5.5G and beyond.
ITOCHU Cable Systems is preparing to continue and broaden its network-based, GNSS-resilient time synchronisation trials in Japan in the coming year 2026 and has placed an initial order with Net Insight for its synchronisation overlay services, Precision TimeNet.
Timing Precision and Network Reliability
Time synchronisation makes the defining features of 5G possible – including greater bandwidth, lower latency and wider coverage. A far higher level of timing precision and network reliability is needed to achieve and maintain those features for 5G connectivity, compared to the architectures of earlier mobile generations.
While 3G and 4G could withstand small inaccuracies, 5G network functions – like Time Division Duplexing (TDD), Massive MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) and Carrier Aggregation – generally rely on extremely accurate time alignment between distributed network elements. Even slight deviations may adversely affect throughput, latency or service consistency, and these issues become especially marked in 5G-Advanced (5GA) and 5.5G applications.
Time synchronisation maintains consistent network stability and reliability by making sure that clocks in different systems, devices or networks all show the same, precise time. This means that data will be transmitted in the right order, networks run reliably and services for mobile networks function without errors. Time can be synchronised using sources like GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems).
GNSS, including GPS, is widely used in telecom and IT networks to serve as a precise, recognised time source, using accurate signals from GPS satellites. But these signals are inherently weak and vulnerable to interference like jamming or spoofing, or may not be available, and require alternative or backup timing for resilience and security.
One such alternative is distributing time over the network itself through network-based synchronisation, which delivers accurate time from one or more time sources to all nodes in the network.
Synchronisation Overlay across IP Infrastructure
Precision TimeNet (PTN) from Net Insight takes this approach by disaggregating the synchronisation function from the hardware and creating a synchronisation overlay across the existing IP infrastructure. PTN uses end-nodes, or TimeNodes, to convert and distribute synchronisation over the network, which also means it does not rely on conventional PTP IEEE1588 hardware support in intermediate nodes. It includes orchestration to monitor and manage the synchronisation, end-to-end, with sufficient accuracy to meet the synchronisation requirements for 5G TDD networks.
Net Insight’s overlay is service-oriented – accurate time is scalable and efficiently distributed out to base stations or the radio access network (RAN), via vendor-agnostic network infrastructure. Equally important, it is resilient to node, link and clock failures. Without relying on either PTP or GNSS/GPS solutions, it can work together with either one, making it flexible and useful in different network scenarios. It can serve as the main synchronisation mechanism across the whole network, as a complement to existing GNSS/GPS or PTP set-ups or as a full redundant backup, scaled as required.
Partnership
The ITOCHU Group and Net Insight have worked as partners for many years. In the area of time synchronisation, Net Insight works alongside ITOCHU Cable Systems, its system integrator partner, on reliable, high-availability timing solutions for the Japanese market.
"This order marks an important milestone in our continued expansion in Japan together with our partner ITOCHU Cable Systems," said Per Lindgren, Group CTO and Head of Synchronization at Net Insight. "The strong interest in the region reflects a clear shift among operators toward resilient, GNSS-resilient synchronization architectures designed for scale, reliability, and future services." netinsight.net
