New Electronics, August 10th 2009

Frequency management will play an important role if Ethernet is to be applied successfully in synchronous networks.

The convergence of datacom and telecom networks is placing new challenges on network equipment design.

One aspect of such network evolution is clock synchronisation. Distributing an accurate common clocking signal has long been the basis of telecom standards such as the synchronous optical networking/synchronous digital hierarchy (Sonet/SDH) protocols. Now clock synchronisation is being embraced for Ethernet for backhauling wireless data from 3G cellular basestations.

Maxim's DS310x family of devices aims to lower the cost of clock synchronisation while supporting emerging applications such as a synchronous version of Ethernet.

The timing needs of datacom and telecom equipment are dictated by the networking protocols used by the particular platform. Sonet/SDH, as implied by the name, uses synchronous clocking. A common, high quality clocking signal is used to ensure the resilient transmission of voice and data traffic. Such clock synchronisation is used for timing on the platform's line cards, between systems at a campus or a central office that hosts the telecom equipment, and even between central offices.


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