BEST PRACTICES –

5G TIMING AND
SYNCHRONIZATION
 1 Concepts of Time
2 Impact of 5G
3 5G Timing and Synchronization Solutions
Topics
4 Testing 5G Timing and Synchronization
5 Summary
6 Questions
© 2019 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 2
Concepts of Time

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 3

“Time is an illusion –
lunchtime doubly so”
Ford Prefect

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Why do we need time?

ORDER OF &
DURATION OF SYCHRONIZATION OF EVENTS
EVENTS

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Measurement of Time
UTC Timing Requirements
Universal Time Coordinated 1. Reference
• Absolute
Time Zones
• Relative
-12 to +14 hours offset from UTC

UTC Epoch
Number of seconds since
00:00:00 1 Jan 1970

GNSS
Global Navigation Satellite System

GPS Epoch
Number of seconds since
00:00:00 6 Jan 1980 © 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 6
Measurement of Time

Accurate PreciseStable
(Repeatable) Accurate Not accurate
&&Precise
Stable (but not accurate) (but
(butnot
notprecise)
stable) or
orprecise
stable

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 7

Measurement of Time
Timing Requirements
1. Reference
2. Accurate
3. Precise and Stable
4. Adequate Resolution

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 8

Impact of 5G

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 Synchronous Networks
1x
A D A D A A
2x 1x
D D
PTRC 4x E B E B 1x

2x
B B
1x

E E
Sequence F C F C
1x

A B C D E F A B C D E F 2x C C
1x
Ethernet
Duration F F
Cost ✓
Management ✓
Efficiency ✓ © 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 10
Evolution towards 5G (North America)

RRH
RU

GPS

Node B

CU BBU
eNodeB
DU
Midhaul
Backhaul Coax
CPRI
eCPRI

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 11

 5G Timing Requirements
4G Advanced and 5G requires frequency and phase synchronization
• Time Division Duplex (TDD) ~1.5us (Absolute)
• For Coordinated multi-point (CoMP) <1us (Relative)
• OTDOA positioning for emergency services <1us (Relative)
• Carrier Aggregation (CA) =130 to 260ns (Relative)
• MIMO ~65ns (Relative)
Access/Edge Edge/Agg Agg/Core
Radio site CO/DC Regional DC Mobile core
RU Fronthaul DU Midhaul CU Backhaul

TE (relative):
<1us TE (absolute): 1.1us
RU Fronthaul
TE (absolute): 1.5us

RU: Radio unit TE: Time Error

DU: Distributed unit TAE: Time Alignment Error
CU: Centralized unit © 2020 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 12
5G Cell Densification
More Small, Pico and Femto cells are implemented for capacity and coverage

mmWave cells will have around 300-500m transmission coverage

GNSS Issues
• Too expensive to implement in every location

• Streetlight and side of building create line of sight problems x20

• Downtown areas create reflections and ghost signals

• New construction, seasonal changes and ‘nature’ create changing

environment
 5G Timing and
Synchronization
Solutions
© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 14
Using the Network for Synchronization
Node 1 Node 2 Node 3

Ref
Clock
Ethernet Synchronous Message Channel (ESMC)

SyncE – ITU Standard

Based on SONET – Reliable, Tested, Nationwide Coverage
Improved Clock – 100ppm -> 4.6ppm
Every device in chain must support SyncE
Frequency Synchronization ONLY
© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 15
 Synchronization, Phase and Time Distribution
T-GM T-TSC

Sync

t0
Follow up

t1

Delay Request t2

Ref t3
Clock
t4 Delay Response

t5

IEEE1588v2-2008 Precision Time Protocol (PTP)

Assumes outbound and inbound packet delay is equal
PTP time reference is to Temps Atomic International (TAI)
Frequency, Phase and Time of Day Synchronization
T-GM and T-TSC are defined as Ordinary Clocks © 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 16
 Synchronization, Phase and Time Distribution

T-BC T-TC
Ref
Clock

IEEE1588v2-2008 Precision Time Protocol (PTP)

T-BC (Boundary Clocks), Slaves to upstream, Master to downstream clocks
Boundary clocks ‘buffer’ the upstream network from congestion
T-TC (Transparent Clocks), do not keep time but compensate for switching delay
Regular switches and routers can be used to the detriment of clock quality
© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 17
 1588 PTP profiles

Main PTP profiles are G.8275.1 and G.8275.2

GPS

PRTC
T-TSC T-GM
T-BC T-BC T-BC T-BC

PTP full timing on-path timing support, G.8275.1 Telecom Profile

PTP unaware PTP unaware

Backhaul network GPS
Backhaul network
PRTC
T-TSC T-GM
T-BC

T-GM: Telecom Grand Master

T-BC: Telecom Boundary Clock PTP with partial timing support, G.8275.2 Telecom Profile
T-TSC: Telecom Time Slave Clock © 2020 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 18
Full Timing Support

GPS

PRTC
T-TSC T-GM
T-BC T-BC T-BC T-BC

Potential Issues
Too many hops
Excess Packet Delay Variation
Congestion
Rerouting
© 2020 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 19
Moving Clocks Closer to the Edge

GPS GPS
PTP Slave
T-GM
PTP
CESR
GrandMaster
Carrier Ethernet
Network
T-BC
Node B

eNode B
Small Cells

PTP Slave PTP Slave PTP Slave © 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 20
Testing 5G Timing and
Synchronization

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 21

Getting value out of testing
1. What is the skill level of the person performing the test?
Contractor
Cell Technician
Specialist
2. What is the operator performing the test to do if the test fails?
Troubleshoot
Report and Escalate

3. Who can perform corrective measures?

Access
Security

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 22

Testing Configuration – Cell Site Installation
Click to add text
Option 7 Testing
RU
Fronthaul Midhaul Backhaul
CRPI/eCPRI F1/Ethernet IP/Ethernet

1 DU CU
Junction Box

Towards RU Towards DU
FIP FIP
OTDR OTDR
CPRI/eCPRI BERT SyncE (Reception)
SyncE (Reflection) PTP (Reception)
© 2017 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 23
Testing Configuration – Cell Site Installation
Click to add text
Option 2 Testing
RU

DU
Backhaul
Midhaul
IP/Ethernet
F1/Ethernet
1 2 CU
Junction Box

Towards RU Towards CU
FIP FIP
OTDR OTDR
EtherBERT EtherBERT
SyncE (Reflection) SyncE (Reception)
PTP (Reception)
© 2017 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 24
SyncE Field Testing Results

SyncE

• Simple connection

Is SyncE running?
• Short test duration
Is the clock quality • Easy to interpret results
level correct.
• Easy to debug
Is the frequency
correct and stable?

© 2019 EXFO Inc. 25

IEEE1588/PTP Field Testing

IEEE1588/PTP
Correct GM?

• Simple connection
Packet Delay Variation • Short test duration
Acceptable?
• Easy to interpret results
• Easy to debug
Clock Quality
is as expected?

Is PTP working?

© 2017 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 26

Laboratory and Specialist Testing

Wander GPS
Antenna

• Simple connection
1PPS
• Long test duration
• Skill to interpret results
MTIE
• Skill and Access Ref
mask
Clock
required to debug
MTIE

TDEV

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20190435 27

Summary
We need to change timing and synchronization strategies to cope with evolution
of the network infrastructure and the demands of 5G

Timing requirements will require careful design and configuration of 5G XHaul

Testing of network architecture timing and synchronization performance prior to

implementation will be required

Expected performance will need to be communicated to maintenance team for

testing during installation (Wander)

Contractor procedures need to include testing of PTP and SyncE services as part
of handover package.

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 28

Questions?

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Thank you!

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 30

Timing and Synchronization for 5G
1588 PTP
EXFO’s 1588 PTP validates
1588 PTP packet network
synchronization services,
supports G.8265.1, G.8275.1
and G.8275.2 profiles.
SyncE Wander
EXFO’s SyncE application Wander/TE delivers all the test
validates SyncE frequency, results (TE, MTIE, TDEV)
ESMC messages and clock required in order to diligently
quality levels. evaluate the reference signal/
clock during turn-up or
troubleshooting at cell tower
locations
© 2019 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 31
 USE
CASE 3 Timing & sync troubleshooting

RESULT

Drastically reduce timing issue and

1588 PTP SyncE Wander
troubleshooting time

Pinpoint easily the location of Timing

the timing problem in the network! reference
PTP aware
Ensure that every installation Backhaul network
meet 5G synchronization T-TSC T-GM
requirements T-BC T-BC T-BC T-BC

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20190435 32

Network synchronization
Why 1588 PTP and SyncE are critical for 5G
– 4G Advanced and 5G requires frequency and phase
synchronization
– For Coordination multi-point (CoMP)
– OTDOA positioning for emergency services
– Carrier Aggregation (CA) GNSS synchronization
– Time Division Duplex (TDD) instead of Frequency Division Duplex
Timing
(FDD)
reference
– GNSS expensive to implement in every location
– Doesn't scale with cell site and small cell densification T-TSC T-GM
T-BC T-BC
– Doesn't work well in dense urban areas (line of sight issues)
Network synchronization
– Weak signal, subject to interference and jamming
© 2020 EXFO Inc. All rights reserved. 33
ITU – 5G Sync/Timing Requirements
 Standard References

ITU-T G.8261 - Timing and Synchronization Aspects in Packet Networks, Feb 2008.
ITU-T G.8262 - Timing Characteristics of SyncE Equipment Slave Clock, Aug 2007.
ITU-T G.8264 - Distribution of Timing Through Packet Networks, Feb 2008
ITU-T G.813 - Clock Model
ITU-T G.8275.1 - Full Timing Support
ITU-T G.8275.2 - Partial Timing Support
ITU-T G.8273.2 - Eqpt Time Error Limits

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 35

Laboratory and Specialist Testing

Wander GPS
Antenna

• Simple connection
1PPS
• Long test duration
• Skill to interpret results
MTIE
• Skill and Access Ref
mask
Clock
required to debug
MTIE

TDEV

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20190435 36

Boundary Clocks

PTP Packets 1 PPS

01:23:42.034614314

Clock update from PTP Input

Not all PTP packets are processed
Selection of Packets to Process is vendor proprietary
Decision of when to advance/retard clock is vendor proprietary
1 Pulse Per Second (1 PPS) Output
Derivation of 1 PPS clock from internal clock is vendor proprietary
Circuitry to produce 1 PPS clock is vendor proprietary
© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 37
 Measuring BC TE based on Network Traffic

PTP Packets S M PTP Packets 2

1
01:23:42.034614314

1 Assessing MTIE and TDEV using PTP input and Slave tester is futile
PTP Slave in test equipment is different from PTP Slave in DUT
Clock adjustment algorithm in test equipment is different from DUT
Therefore MTIE and TDEV measures have no correlation with DUT
2 Assessing MTIE and TDEV using PTP output and Slave tester is problematic

© 2020 EXFO Inc. 20200198 38