CSIR and DoT sign MoU for nationwide Time Stamping & Time Synchronization network

National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) and Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical knowledge sharing for establishing nationwide Time Stamping and Time Synchronization network (TSTSN) and traceability of Time signal to UTC NPL Time.

Key Facts

The nationwide TSTSN consisting of 22 numbers of Time Synchronization Centers (TSC’s) will be set up by DoT with technical assistance from CSIR-NPL.  This network will provide synchronizing pulse in Indian Standard Time (IST) to all Telecom & Internet Service providers (ISPs) in all 22 LSA (Licensed Service Areas) in the country.
Accuracy of the time depends upon distance between TSC (reference source) and location of the TSP/ISPs Centres. Therefore, stratum-1TSC will be established at all the 22 LSAs across the country.  The project will be implemented in two phases.  In first phase TSC’s will be set up in four metro LSA’s and in second phase remaining 22 LSA’s will be covered.
The primary purpose of synchronizing telecom network with IST time stamp is to enable security agencies to overcome difficulty in analyzing and correlating cyber events in this era of advancement of telecom technology. It will also improve telecom network efficiency by reducing packet loss due to reduced slips in better synchronized digital network.

Significance

The establishment and implementation of pan India TSTSN across Indian Telecom Network will eliminate problem of Time Synchronization among TSP/ISPs. This will lead to better efficiency of Telecom Network and reduce Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call drop, improve Quality of Service of network, Voice, Video. It will help to curb cybercrimes and also help to identify and correlate various digital financial transactions.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2018