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Microsemi Announces New TimeSource “Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clock” to Protect Against GNSS Vulnerabilities

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.—Oct. 27, 2016—Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC), a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today announced the availability of its TimeSource Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clock (TimeSource Enhanced PRTC), a new system enabling telecommunications and mobile operators to meet the new G.8272.1 recommendation from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), while also protecting against serious threats associated with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) vulnerabilities.

Microsemi’s new TimeSource Enhanced PRTC “generates time” by producing its own independent time scale aligned with GNSS, while its phase, time and frequency signal outputs remain autonomous. This provides customers within the communications, power, public safety, data center and government network markets with a secure infrastructure, reducing dependency on GNSS and enabling network operators to retake control of the timing source used for network synchronization. The new system is also designed to meet the stringent new ITU-T Recommendation G.8272.1, which requires accuracy to within 30 nanoseconds (ns) or better when verified against a time standard such as UTC.

“Worldwide telecommunications, power utilities and other infrastructure customers are in critical need of protection against GNSS vulnerability, and Microsemi’s new TimeSource Enhanced PRTC provides a powerful, high performance solution to address this need,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice president and business unit manager of Microsemi’s Frequency and Time division. “In addition, maintaining less than 30 ns performance is important to mobile operators who require a high level of accuracy to support LTE/4G and the upcoming deployment of 5G.”

Massive deployment of GNSS as a timing source for synchronizing telecommunications networks (both wired and wireless) has created security risks to a point where governments, major telecommunications/mobile operators and enterprises are now urgently looking to protect their networks against both regional GNSS issues as well as the potential of a global GNSS outage. Microsemi’s TimeSource Enhanced PRTC works with the company’s cesium clocks to ensure time is generated in an autonomous manner. Specifically, the TimeSource Enhanced PRTC’s “source of time” aligns accurately with GNSS time without being dependent upon it—avoiding any vulnerability to threats caused by jamming and spoofing.

According to Research and Markets’ report from market research firm Markets and Markets titled, “Anti-Jamming Market for GPS by Technique (Nulling System, Beam Steering System, Civilian System), Receiver Type (Military & Government Grade, Commercial Transportation Grade), Application, End User, and Geography – Global Forecast to 2022,” the anti-jamming market for GPS is expected to reach $4.8 billion and more than 309,000 units by 2022, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7 percent and 10 percent, respectively, between 2016-2022. Demand for secured weapons guided systems and increasing vulnerability of GPS signals due to development of low-cost GPS jammers are the major growth drivers of the market.

Product Availability

Microsemi’s TimeSource Enhanced PRTC is available now. For more information, visit http://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/3425-timing-synchronization#sync-systems or contact sales.support@microsemi.com

Product Demonstrations and Expert Presentations at ITSF

Microsemi’s technical experts will be showcasing the new TimeSource Enhanced PRTC, along with its integrated GNSS Grandmaster (IGM) 1100 series, SyncServerS600 series, TimeProvider 2700 and TimeProvider 5000, in booth #17 at the International Timing & Sync Forum (ITSF), taking place Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in Prague, Czech Republic. 

In addition, experts from Microsemi will present their expertise via a number of tutorials and technical presentations at the event, including:

•       “Characterizing Time Performance Over a Network” on Oct. 31 at 4:05 p.m.

•       “Delivering and Maintaining Phase in a Production Network” on Nov. 2 at 11:25 a.m.
•       “Ethernet Time Transfer Through a U.S. Commercial Optical Telecommunications Network on Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m.

•       “ePRTC Operating Through Extended Outages” on Nov.3 at 2:10 p.m.

For a complete schedule of the forum’s speaking schedule, visit http://itsf2016.executiveindustryevents.com/Event/programme. To schedule a meeting or product demonstration with Microsemi during the conference, contact sales.support@microsemi.com.

About Microsemi’s Product Portfolio for Communications

Microsemi is a premier supplier of high value-add semiconductor, system and services for the enterprise, data center and telecom markets. Microsemi products enable customers to build secure, reliable and low power systems that can meet stringent requirements of next generation communication networks. Customers leverage Microsemi technologies to drive innovation in a range of applications including edge and core routers, Ethernet switches, optical transport network (OTN), wireless infrastructure including LTE-Advanced, small cells and Wi-Fi access points; access aggregation and broadband gateways including fiber/PON, G.fast and DOCSIS3.1. 
Microsemi’s comprehensive communications portfolio offers market-leading advancements in multiple product categories including high accuracy timing and synchronization systems, software, components and services; feature-rich Carrier Ethernet switches and PHY, power-efficient and multi-standard compliant Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) systems and components, G.hn, G.fast and xDSL line drivers; innovative voice and audio intelligence, lowest power FPGAs with highest security and single event upset (SEU) immune fabric, security portfolio of hardware and software products including state-of–the-art multi-layer encryption, sophisticated key management, secure authentication with anti-tamper and anti-cloning capabilities; 100 Gigabits optical drivers and the most integrated Wi-Fi front-end modules (FEM). For more information, visit http://www.microsemi.com/applications/communications.

About Microsemi

Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for aerospace & defense, communications, data center and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiation-hardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs and ASICs; power management products; timing and synchronization devices and precise time solutions, setting the world’s standard for time; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; enterprise storage and communication solutions, security technologies and scalable anti-tamper products; Ethernet solutions; Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; as well as custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, and has approximately 4,800 employees globally. Learn more at http://www.microsemi.com

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