SyncWatch has been selected by a global mobile operator as part of their packet RAN rollout. SyncWatch had already been used to prove the PTP/1588 technology in the lab but this deployment is specifically targeted at the longer term monitoring of the synchronisation quality delivered to base station equipment (eNodeB) in the commercial network. This mode of operation of SyncWatch is known as “SyncWatch Managed”.

To determine the end to end performance of a PTP delivered synchronisation system it is only necessary to monitor the frequency that is delivered out of the PTP client. If this frequency signal remains in specification i.e. “below the specified MTIE performance mask” selected for that measurement location then all can be determined to be “ok”.

If this synchronisation service is deemed to be “ok” then the operator is not concerned there may be a small number of IEEE1588/PTP packets lost, mis-ordered or affected by PDV as they traverse the network.

Only if the frequency performance limits (MTIE) are exceeded might it be necessary to investigate what’s going on in the packet domain of the network. The decision to undertake such investigations will be determined by the NOC and 2nd/3rd engineering support teams.

 SyncWatch probes fitted with packet analysis /PTP modules operating in “SyncWatch Standalone” mode may be deployed in the same way other traditional testers might be deployed to investigate faults in the packet domain.