u-blox, a global leader in positioning and short-range communication technologies, has announced the integration of Switzerland’s UTC-traceable timing infrastructure into its GNSS test laboratory in Thalwil. The collaboration with the Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) and Switch, the operator of Switzerland’s national research and education network, provides u-blox with continuous access to a UTC-traceable reference, ensuring full measurement traceability for its timing products.
The significance of this integration lies in the critical role that precise synchronization and validation play in GNSS timing technologies. For applications such as telecommunications, power grids, and financial networks, timing accuracy is paramount. By bringing the national time standard directly into its laboratory, u-blox can now rapidly validate new hardware and software releases for GNSS timing receivers without the need to access external metrology facilities. This capability accelerates the development cycle and strengthens the reliability of next-generation timing products.
The METAS time dissemination service uses White Rabbit technology, an Ethernet-based synchronization method originally developed at CERN. White Rabbit enables sub-nanosecond synchronization over fiber-optic networks and is increasingly adopted in advanced scientific and industrial environments. Switch provides the fiber-optic network over which the timing signal is disseminated, ensuring a secure and reliable connection.
“High-performance GNSS timing products depend on rigorous and traceable timing validation throughout the development cycle,” said Samuli Pietilä, Director of Product Line Management, Timing and Infrastructure at u-blox. “This infrastructure allows us to validate and continuously improve GNSS timing receiver performance directly in our own laboratory against a UTC-traceable reference.”
The infrastructure also enables long-term timing stability measurements over extended periods, ranging from weeks to months, against a stable UTC-traceable reference source. This is essential for applications that require sustained accuracy, such as network synchronization and critical infrastructure operations.
Jacques Morel, Head of the Laboratory Photonics, Time and Frequency at METAS, commented, “We are pleased to support u-blox with our time dissemination service. This collaboration demonstrates how national metrology infrastructure can support advanced industrial applications requiring highly accurate synchronization, timing precision, and traceable validation against UTC references.”
The collaboration underscores the strength of Switzerland’s precision technology ecosystem, bringing together national metrology expertise, optical timing infrastructure, and advanced GNSS timing technologies. As GNSS timing becomes more integral to modern infrastructure, ensuring traceability to international standards is not just a technical requirement but a competitive advantage.
The timing infrastructure is now operational in the u-blox GNSS laboratory and will support ongoing development and validation activities for GNSS timing products. This integration marks a significant step in bridging national metrology and industrial innovation, ensuring that u-blox’s timing solutions meet the highest standards of accuracy and reliability.
