ITSF 2013 – “Time for Phase”

The theme for ITSF 2013 to be held in Lisbon, Portugal on the 5-7 November is “Time for Phase”.

The conference will examine why it is “time for phase”, the implications and challenges of delivering precise “time” to within a few 100 nanoseconds as opposed to “timing” around a telecom network. It will explore vulnerabilities and mitigation solutions.

This ITSF event will be the 10^th anniversary of the introduction to the Telecoms community of the IEEE 1588 timing technology by John Eidson. We did not know then how important this technology would be as a time transport solution to mitigate vulnerabilities for the yet to emerge broadband mobile networks.

A lot has happened in the industry since that ITSF meeting in London in 2004.  The Standards have are still evolving although some have been formally adopted for 1588 technology.  Manufacturers have adapted it into their product offerings and operators have embraced it and are rolling out infrastructure reliant on 1588 PTP technology to transport time.

This is not the end of the story.  Time or “Phase” will be a critical feature as we move forward to address the phenomenal bandwidth demands of the Tablet and Smartphone user community.

The UK held its 4G auctions in the first quarter of 2013.  Other countries have either already done the same or will be doing so very shortly. The certainty of needing to satisfy the internal investment of the 4G auction activity and need to deliver services demanding precise time synchronisation such as Co-ordinated Multi point is setting the pace for challenging requirements for time synchronisation at the edge of the network.

Ten years after 1588 was introduced in London, Lisbon 2013 could be the most defining ITSF conference yet.  It is “Time for Phase”. See you there!

Prof. Charles Curry, BEng, CEng, FIET
Chairman ITSF Steering Group