Chronos Technology and Semtech form partnership

Chronos Technology, a global expert in time, timing, phase and monitoring systems, and Semtech Corporation (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of analogue and mixed-signal semiconductors, are pleased to announce that they have developed a range of managed solutions which will reduce the transition to time or phase alignment in today’s advanced wireless networks where technologies such as LTE TDD and LTE-A will require more than just simple frequency alignment.

IEEE 1588-2008 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) has become well established as the leading technology for providing frequency, phase and time-of-day synchronisation over packet-based networks. However, deploying PTP-capable equipment in legacy networks can be highly disruptive and a prohibitively expensive upgrade in many cases. The range of managed solutions from the Chronos/Semtech partnership will address this issue enabling accurate delivery of time/phase, protect from GPS vulnerabilities and allow network monitoring.

The solutions include pluggable IEEE1588 Masters, slaves and boundary clocks that reduce the cost of adding timing capability to existing infrastructure that in itself is not capable of supporting on-path time and timing capability. Service disruption normally expected with hardware upgrades on non-redundant systems is mitigated through the use of this new technology.

“This is an extremely exciting time for us,” said Rich Lansdowne, senior director at Semtech. “The integration of an entire IEEE 1588 network element is beyond belief to many people. Working together with Chronos using their expertise in carrier networks and their knowledge of network operators’ requirements allows us to deliver this incredible technology as a complete solution to the operator.”

Prof Charles Curry, managing director of Chronos said “Bringing together Chronos’ world-class PhaseReady™ tools and Semtech’s leading ToPSync® based IEEE 1588 solutions allows low cost transparent upgrades of existing infrastructure. As the systems integrator of timing solutions for many national operators, we are delighted to have been able to develop a solution in conjunction with Semtech. Semtech’s innovative hardware means low cost timing is accessible right to the edges of the network. When coupled with our unrivalled expertise in deployment in large-scale networks we believe we have a winning combination.”

Semtech’s ToPSync timing devices deliver high-precision IEEE1588v2-based clock synchronization on IP networks. ToPSync devices are deployed in more than 100 carrier networks and meet the challenges of the 4G time-aligned technologies as the growth in small cells accelerates.

About Chronos Technology
Chronos is an acknowledged expert in time, timing, phase and monitoring for telecoms, energy/utilities and banking/financial institutions. Chronos’ range of ‘PhaseReady’ services help network operators assess and prepare networks for the challenges of rolling out LTE-A services. Chronos’ SyncWatch™, a versatile sync testing and measurement solution, and TimePort™, a low power, lightweight, portable device that maintains time to within a few hundred nanoseconds of UTC in GPS denied locations. Established in 1986, Chronos is also recognised as a global leader in GPS jamming and interference detection and location products and solutions and is a specialist technology company in the wider field of position, navigation and timing (PNT) supplying a comprehensive range of GNSS (GPS) products for military and civilian applications. Chronos’ range of bespoke GPS timing products for time and frequency synchronisation introduces one of the world’s first GPS disciplined Chip Scale Atomic Clock products for OEM applications. For more information please visit: www.chronos.co.uk

About Semtech Corporation
Semtech is a leading supplier of analogue and mixed-signal semiconductors for high-end consumer, computing, communications and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering community as well as the global community. The company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the environment. Internal green programmes seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SMTC. For more information visit http://www.semtech.com.
Semtech, the Semtech logo, and ToPSync are registered marks of Semtech Corporation