First single-chip 5G network synchronization solution

Microchip has unveiled the first single-chip network synchronization solution that is able to provide ultra-precise timing for 5G radio access equipment.

With 5G technology requiring time sources to be synchronized throughout a packet-switched network ten times more accurately than 4G requirements, Microchip’s single-chip solution is a highly integrated, low-power, multi-channel integrated circuit (IC) that is coupled with the company’s widely adopted IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) and clock recovery algorithm software modules.

“Our newest ZL3073x/63x/64x network synchronization platform implements sophisticated measure, calibrate and tune capabilities, thereby significantly reducing network equipment time error to meet the most stringent 5G requirements,” said Rami Kanama, vice president of Microchip’s timing and communications business unit. “A uniquely flexible architecture for implementing the necessary channel density as well as high-performance, low-jitter synthesizers help simplify the design of timing cards, line cards, Radio Units (RU), Centralised Units (CUs) and Distributed Units (DUs) for 5G Radio Access Networks (RAN).”

Microchip’s measure, calibrate and tune capabilities ensure 5G systems are able to achieve International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunication (ITU-T) Standard G.8273.2 Class C (30ns max|TE|) and the emerging Class D (5ns max|TEL|) time error requirements. The architecture has been designed to provide flexibility, and offers up to five independent Digital Phase Locked Loop (DPLL) channels while consuming only 0.9W of power in a compact 9 x 9-millimeter package that reduces board space, power and system complexity.

With five ultra-low-jitter synthesizers, this latest platform offers 100 femtosecond (fs) root mean square (rms) jitter performance required by high-speed interfaces in the latest 5G RU, DU and CU systems.

Microchip’s network synchronization platform software includes its ZLS30730 high-performance algorithm coupled with its ZLS30390 IEEE 1588-2008 protocol engine. Both are widely deployed in 3G, 4G and 5G networks with precise timing capabilities.

Microchip’s ZL3073x/63x/64x network synchronization platform is able to combine seamlessly with the company’s family of precision 5G oscillators – for example, the OX-601 Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator (OCXO) – to offer 5G network operators a total system solution.

Microchip also offers a graphical user interface (GUI) and evaluation board along with application notes and other design-in support tools.