Conference Theme - What is the financial impact of poor Time and Timing?
The 6th International Telecom Sync Forum
will be held in Munich, Germany from 4th-6th November 2008
The 5th International Telecom Sync Forum meeting was held at The IET, Savoy Place, London hosted by the IET from 13th to 15th November 2007 and was attended by over 135 delegates from 17 Countries and was considered to be a great success.
Networks are changing rapidly with the increasing emergence of “Next Generation Networks” using packet technology rather than the traditional TDM technology; however the need for Synchronisation to enable effective operation of many applications remains. Synchronisation requirements, Synchronisation implementations and Synchronisation Network design are all changing in this new packet based environment.
Many topics were raised during the presentations, question and discussions, some of the key issues were:
- GPS and Galileo Developments
- 3G Mobile Synchronisation Requirements and Design
- Metro/Access Sync in a Packet Environment
- Sync Testing, Measurement, Monitoring, Sync Service Level Agreements
- Robust Operator Network Synchronisation Designs
Planning has started for the 6th International Telecom Synchronisation Forum meeting to be held in Munich, Germany (venue to be confirmed) from 4th - 6th November 2008.
In 2001, when ITSF was first held, we said that the telecommunications world was rapidly converging towards an IP only environment.
We said the same in 2004 See article by Ian Wright, from IET Communications Engineer on the 2nd ITSF.
In 2005 BT announced that their 21st Century Network evolution would begin to unfold soon and put IP in the access layer. Other telcos are contemplating the same thing. So do we still need to worry about sync? Let's split the discussion into core and edge requirements.
In the core, IP traffic will be carried over SDH and DWDM technology. Most carriers have now built theses core networks, mesh IP in the core is evolving, the ETSI SDH sync rules may need to be revisited. Sync can be refined, improved, perhaps managed better, unsupportable equipment updated or replaced. However, sync still has a role to play.
The edge of a network can be defined in two ways, either as the boundary with another network or the last mile into an application. This latter scenario - beyond the edge - the "fringe" has many legacy services working independently but relying symbiotically on the connection for effective operation. What will happen to these legacy applications if we remove the constant bit rate traceability to network sync? Let's examine one of the more common applications in the last mile space. In the early 1990's we designed GSM base stations to self calibrate their radio accuracy from this last mile connection. In the mid 90's we started running E1's over SDH which caused some notable problems to base station performance.
By the end of 2007 in many cases timing will be delivered over Ethernet using PTP or circuit emulation techniques - what now the GSM base station? Some people argue that 3G Node B's will not operate in such an environment. Should the wireless operators with their massive investment in the licences be worrying about this? Should the backhaul providers be considering this? What do you think? If you have a view you need to attend the ITSF.
So, as we further develop transmission technology to handle more and more bandwidth, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you understand the need for synchronisation?
- Do you recognise the impact of loss of sync on your application?
- Do you understand the link between QoS and synchronisation?
- Can support and operating costs be improved by the effective deployment of synchronisation (sync) solutions?
- Is there a link between your revenue and quality of sync?
- Are you aware how new technologies (UMTS, DWDM, Ethernet) may impact your company's future operations?
There is a proven need for synchronisation, that's why more than $200m a year, is spent on synchronisation products by Network Operators and Service Providers around the globe.
So, whether you represent a Network Operator, Service Provider, System's Integrator, Equipment Vendor or Enterprise user this conference provides the knowledge and industry contacts you need to be successful.
Who Should Attend?
The next ITSF will again present a unique opportunity to mix with experts in the field from all areas of synchronisation and is a must for:
- Network designers, planners & architects
- Service & support engineers
- Core & access network strategists
- Transmission planners
- Sync & standards specialists
- Equipment designers
- Network operators
- Managers of network operations, or anyone working in technologies such as ATM, SDH, WDM & DWDM xDSL, IP, optical networks & satellite communications
- Product designers of clock recovery circuits & phase locked loops telecom infrastructure equipment will also find the conference useful
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