Aerospace, defense agencies and critical infrastructure operators have shifted the debate from the need for an alternate source of PNT (APNT) to the need for complementary PNT (CPNT) services for mission assurance and continuation of critical services in GNSS-denied environments. Global events have proven that reliance on GNSS as the sole source of PNT is an unacceptable risk to national security. 

Topics for discussion include:

• The use and integration of APNT and CPNT with traditional PNT technologies
• PNT to support critical infrastructure and aerospace defense industry applications
• Space-based broadcasting systems
• Wireless terrestrial systems
• Novel implementations of clock sync and time transfer in GNSS denied and non-traditional environments
• Performance and vulnerabilities of PNT services using signals of opportunity
• Resilience of APNT and CPNT systems compared with traditional PNT systems
• Other trusted and secure communication systems that support APNT or CPNT services

The use of time and the need for time synchronization has been growing, is now ubiquitous and is expanding into a world of emerging applications. Areas such as intelligent transportation (e.g., self-driving vehicles), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning all benefit from accurate time synchronization.

Also, time synchronization is essential for applications using IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), such as Industrial Automation, Automotive, and Aerospace industries. This session will address the need for time synchronization in emerging applications. In general, real-world examples are encouraged.

Topics for discussion include:

• The use of time synchronization in Artificial Intelligence and its impact on performance and system implications.
• Use of time synchronization in Machine Learning and its impact on technical architectures and applications.
• Cyber physical systems and the role time plays in the architectures and performance of these systems.
• Use of time synchronization in self-driving vehicles, the need for time in autonomous vehicle traffic control and collision mitigation, and techniques for acquiring time and sharing it between traffic entities would be well received.
• How IEEE Std 802.1AS is being used in applications such as Industrial Automation for the Automotive and Aerospace industries.
• Resiliency, vulnerabilities, and security implications related to time synchronization in the above-mentioned areas.
• Cross-disciplinary insights and lessons learned from these emerging applications.

Precision synchronization and timing solutions have always been a mainstay of the telecom industry. 5G deployment continues to drive the increased need to deliver accurate synchronization among radio base stations. This trend is expected to continue as the network evolves towards 6G.

There are challenges, however, as vertical industries increasingly integrate 5G and future radio technologies, and advanced networking and transmission schemes, into their applications and offerings. Verticals benefiting from timing and sync innovation include Industrial Automation, Automotive, Broadcast, Multi-Media, Data Centers, and SmartGrid. These and a wide variety of connected industries benefit from the telecom sync solutions as well as from its disseminated reference timing signals. Timing standards in relevant Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) are continuously updated to address these new needs.

Further, with new timing-dependent applications, monitoring of the synchronization performance, timing security and resiliency will be aspects of increased concern. This session will address the implications for synchronization needs on the evolution of these networks and new vertical services.

Topics for discussion include:

• 5G has been deployed for a few years, and meeting timing requirements is one of the main challenges 5G networks face. What experience can be shared from these deployments on how to address timing challenges?
• What issues are introduced by the evolution of the network architecture (e.g., radio access split, shared network resources, network cloudification, different access methods such as Passive Optical Networks (PON))?
• What redundancy schemes are considered (e.g., GNSS combined with PTP, enhanced holdover) for providing the appropriate level of resiliency and availability? How is network performance being monitored?
• Accurate timing may improve network performance, but the design of an accurate synchronization network brings additional costs (especially operational costs) for the network operators. What is the right balance between benefits from accurate timing and related additional expenses?
• What are the synchronization implications on the integration of 5G with vertical industries (e.g., Industrial Automation, Automotive, SmartGrid)? How can connected industries such as Data centre benefit from the telecom sync solutions as well as from its disseminated reference timing signals?
• The introduction of 5G has increased the need for time sync (e.g., due to the broader use of TDD). What new timing requirements are expected as the network evolves toward 6G?
• Use of telecom infrastructure has been proposed to bring alternative time/frequency synchronization to substations and other digital assets if GNSS goes away. For example, via optical distribution or combined with 5G.
• What is the status of timing offered over the telecom infrastructure as a component of critical infrastructure?
• What new timing solutions are being considered in current and future telecom networks? Are AI and ML being considered in this context? Can timing solutions provide information regarding network health and thereby aid in overall Network Management?
• How Telecoms are addressing the surveillance and performance of their Timing Synchronization Network, and how this glue with recent monitoring PTP functionalities?
• How are standards addressing the evolution of the networks and related timing requirements? 

Time synchronization plays a pivotal role in critical industries such as Fintech, Broadcast and Media, Data Centers, and Hybrid Multi-Cloud Systems. The need for precise timekeeping and synchronization grows as these domains become increasingly complex and interconnected.

We invite experts, researchers, and practitioners to submit papers on the evolving requirements of time synchronization in finance, broadcast/media, data centers, and multi-cloud systems. As these industries become more complex and interconnected, the demand for precise timekeeping grows.

Key areas of interest include high-frequency trading, clock synchronization techniques in data centers, the challenges of synchronizing data across multiple cloud providers, synchronization for live broadcasting, production workflows, content distribution and streaming, and ordering of events in databases and applications.

Additionally, the importance of time in distributed databases and workloads, financial transactions/payments and media workflows in cloud computing is of significant interest.

Other related topics include AI and ML synchronization needs in Fintech, Broadcast and Media, Data Centers, Hybrid Multi-Cloud Systems including healthcare and medical devices, as well as advancements in technologies, IoT synchronization challenges, security, reliability, and regulatory/compliance issues.

We welcome theoretical research, practical implementations, case studies, and reviews addressing current challenges, innovative solutions, and future trends.

Time synchronization is increasingly important in the modern power grid. Accurate timing enables fault detection, sequence of event recording, and a variety of protection systems.  The transition to green power is driving the requirement to measure power flows and mitigate grid oscillations. In addition, the power grid is increasingly under threat of cyber-attack and GPS vulnerabilities.

Topics for discussion include:

• Substation evolution and requirements for accurate timing
• The importance of synchronized time for protection automation and control in the digital substation
• Synchrophasors and how timing contributes to grid stability
• Distribution of time across the power grid
• Power-grid specific standards such as PRP/HSR and MMS
• Power grid security requirements including remote authentication and network segregation
• Time synchronization challenges including unique problems such as time jumps and conflicts between WAN and substation needs
• Measures to stabilize the power grid against cyber-attacks and GPS vulnerabilities
• IT/OT convergence driving virtualization from the core to the substation
• Virtualization of substation protection and control functions

“With more applications requiring coordination, cooperation, communication, and collaboration, it is essential they have a level of synchronization with one another; be it time or frequency based. The type and accuracy of synchronization required will vary, driven by the needs of the application. Currently, many industries are experiencing significant changes in infrastructure to meet the demands of both current and future functionality demanded by their respective industries. A crucial aspect is the redundant deployment of time and frequency sources and the distribution of these time synchronization technologies across last mile, backhaul, core, and cloud platforms.

Talks and Posters are invited that discuss sources of time and/or frequency and look at synchronization techniques that can be used in delivering precise, accurate, and traceable (where necessary) Time in a robust and resilient fashion.

Topics for discussion include:

• Discuss new research and/or developments investigate new methods to meet the changing needs of the diverse industry verticals
• Consider measurement, simulation, and analysis methodologies
• Describe recent development of timing sources and synchronization techniques especially in relation to the increasing need for secure timing, including but not limited to innovations and technological advancements

“The Workshop Poster format is designed to help presenters address any WSTS topics or other time/synchronization-related subjects in a less-formal format than Workshop Talks. Posters will be on display for the duration of the conference. Workshop attendees will have ample time to view them before approaching Poster presenters to discuss. During the special periods set aside for Poster Sessions, time is given for all WSTS attendees to view the Posters.

These Sessions provide a relaxed atmosphere to answer questions or to provide information on the Poster Presenters’ topic/offering at a more in-depth level than would be possible in a more formal Workshop talk. This allows each Poster presenter to engage personally with other attendees in small groups or one on one, creating a more interactive and personalized format for connecting with fellow attendees.

Any submission may be a poster or a talk. Since times for talks are very limited, a submission requesting a talk may yet be accepted as a poster. If space becomes available for additional talks, these will be offered to relevant proposals that have been accepted as posters.