Communications networks are
Advances in timing technology
constantly evolving, migrating to
increasingly higher speeds that
raise the bar in terms of clocking and
timing requirements.
The demand for more network
bandwidth is driving the need for
tighter timing synchronisation in
addition to lower jitter, lower phase
noise solutions.
Just as challenging, timing
components must be affordable and
compact, with designers looking for
greater integration and fewer external
components.
Two emerging applications that
are pushing advancements in timing
technology are AIoT (the combination
of artificial intelligence and the
Internet of Things) and 5G mobile
networks.
Advanced timing solutions
AIoT technology can address the
need for real-time processing of data
from IoT sensors, especially when
Frequency Management | Products in Focus
Meeting the clocking demands of AIoT and 5G. By James Wilson
low latency is required. To meet this
need, AIoT shifts data processing away
from centralised data centres to new
computing platforms at the edge of the
network.
Edge computing requires a new
class of low-latency IoT routers,
servers, storage platforms, and
specialised machine-to-machine
(M2M) workload accelerators.
These applications require
frequency-flexible clock generators,
programmable oscillators and low
skew/low jitter clock buffers to provide
clock synthesis and distribution.
In industrial IoT applications, data
is increasingly being generated by
sensors and machine vision systems and
distributed across Ethernet networks.
Similarly, autonomous driving
significantly increases the use of sensor
networks and real-time data processing.
Collectively, these applications
require higher bandwidth and more
data processing, increasing the need for
high performance timing solutions.
5G requires tighter synchronisation
New 5G services are starting to roll
out around the world, enabling faster,
higher bandwidth mobile connections
for more users. 5G will also enable
better coordination between cell
towers, helping to improve call quality
and minimise dropped calls.
These new 5G services require
higher performance, lower latency
radio access networks (RAN). In terms
of timing, 5G RAN requires tighter
synchronization between the cell or
base station towers, driving a growing
need for more advanced timing
solutions.
5G technology holds great promise
for smart home and industrial IoT
applications, which will connect far
more devices to the Internet than at
present. As a result, the amount of data
that will be carried over 5G networks
will grow rapidly in the coming years.
Much of this data will be stored in
the cloud, requiring higher bandwidth
connectivity across telecom networks
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Author details:
James Wilson
is General
Manager, Timing
Products, Silicon
Labs
Image: Adobestock
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/www.digikey.co.uk