The tick-tock of innovation: Why precision timing is essential for 5G, AI, and beyond

[ValOliva]

The future depends on accurate and precise timing

As the saying goes, time is money. It often feels like an understatement in this AI-driven world, with every industry running critical processes that require precise time synchronization. From the need to detect and track fraudulent stock trading activities to active monitoring of autonomous vehicles to prevent accidents, critical operations and processes across all industries depend on accurate and precise timing. Lack of precise time synchronization can result in lower service quality, poor end-user experiences, and increased cybersecurity risks, negatively impacting adjacent and interdependent systems and processes.  

NTP (Network Time Protocol) can only deliver millisecond level timing and is prone to inconsistency and latency. For the most accurate and precise timing, PTP (Precision Time Protocol) synchronizes clocks across a distributed network with nanosecond-level precision. PTP has long been a necessity for Telco and P5G networks and is becoming increasingly critical for enterprises with emerging line of business requirements such as AI inferencing, 5G quality of service, video broadcasting, and other latency-sensitive applications or use cases. 

The tick-tock of innovation: Introducing embedded precision timing in network fabric 

We are thrilled to introduce an innovative solution that embeds precision timing into the network fabric, the HPE Aruba Networking CX 8325P Switch Series. This new switch delivers simplified operations and nanosecond accuracy for mission critical Gen AI, Private 5G, and Telco C-RAN and HPE GreenLake Private Cloud deployments.  

Now you no longer have to rely on third-party point timing servers (services), or Telco designed routers. Embedding PTP into the network infrastructure is a compelling alternative, simplifying deployment and operations, synchronizing timing across compute and storage devices, and ensuring seamless roaming experiences for latency-sensitive cellular traffic.  

The new HPE Aruba Networking CX 8325P Series Switch provides: 

• Nanosecond precision timing accuracy for high-performance computations and workloads and time-sensitive applications. 
• Control over network and security operations and IT design sovereignty by not having to rely on third party point timing servers (services) or Telco designed routers and benefit from using a secure, private network instead of the public internet 
• Seamless unified operational experience from campus to branch to data center, across wired and wireless, switching and 5G small cells, to private 5G cores. HPE Aruba Networking CX switches (CX 8325P, 8360, 9300, 6300M) provide the industry’s first end-to-end architecture that can embed precision timing into the network fabric. 

The switch also offers support for key vertical use cases from edge to data center to cloud, including: 

• Financial sector: monitor trading real-time 
• Manufacturing: coordinate complex assembly processes, robots in warehouses for faster inventory management, logistics for supply chain efficiency. 
• Private 5G: deterministic coverage and high-speed mobility (for example with autonomous vehicles) 
• Healthcare: real-time patient monitoring and alerting systems 
• Media and entertainment: ensure audio/video synchronization when streaming 
• Government: manage critical time dependent military missions. 

Precision timing is not just an add-on but a necessity — playing a crucial role in ensuring data consistency, seamless real-time video synchronization, and the reliability of cloud infrastructure and AI data centers.  

Will Townsend, VP & Principal Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy explains: “Private cellular networking has great promise in its ability to unlock transformative enterprise use cases, including transportation and logistics. However, many of these applications, including modern AI workload support, rely on precise nano-second timing and ultra-low latency profiles. The HPE Aruba Networking CX 8325P switch is designed to address these challenges by integrating telco-grade timing into the network fabric as well as provides a single operating system to ease management cross-domain to network edges.” 

Staying in front of emerging requirements demands adopting early innovations. Get ahead of your timing requirements and help your business grow, innovate, and deliver with precision accuracy using the HPE Aruba Networking CX 8325P Switch. 
 
Because, timing is everything! 

Learn more: 

MWC Press Release 

HPE Aruba Networking CX 8325 Switch Series data sheet