Applications of precise time and frequency to current and future NATO SATCOM

Abstract

Precise time and frequency (PT&F) play an increasingly important role in digital communications systems and networks. Precise time is required for entry into the network, network synchronization, and link acquisition. Precise frequency is required to maintain synchronization, and to ensure that the accumulation of frequency offset and time interval error (TIE), which may result in loss of bit count integrity (BCI), is consistent with end-to-end performance objectives.<>