ADVA Upgrades Oscilloquartz Portfolio for Power Utilities

ADVA has upgraded its complete portfolio of Oscilloquartz PTP grandmaster clocks, enabling power utilities to smoothly transition to packet network synchronization.

The enhanced technology will empower electricity providers to evolve their infrastructure into smart grids based on Precision Time Protocol (PTP) power profiles, while at the same time supporting all legacy timing signals. Updates to ADVA’s Oscilloquartz pluggable solution, its compact small cell device, its mid-size PTP grandmasters and its fully redundant core timing technology ensure ultra-precise timing throughout the utility network. What’s more, the technology removes the risk of relying purely on satellite-based time sources through continuous monitoring, jamming and spoofing detection and AI-assisted analytics.

“Our upgraded technology makes it simple to modernize utility infrastructure. Now, power network operators can achieve the accurate and stable synchronization needed to develop smart grid power networks built on packet-based solutions, while also maintaining legacy timing,” said Gil Biran, general manager, Oscilloquartz, ADVA. “Our technology provides a clear and cost-efficient path to robust and future-proof utility network synchronization. Its PTP timing delivery complements and replaces legacy protocols, enabling the accurate and resilient timing needed for emerging intelligent applications. Along with our multi-constellation GNSS receivers, PTP backup is also essential for protecting critical power networks. This ensures efficient operations and the best protection from malicious attacks.”

ADVA’s entire range of Oscilloquartz grandmaster clocks has been upgraded to meet the latest PTP profiles for time, frequency and phase synchronization in power utility networks. This includes the OSA 5401 small form-factor pluggable, the OSA 5405 for indoor and outdoor substation deployments, the OSA 5420 Series, and the highly scalable OSA 5430 and 5440 with 10Gbit/s interfaces and fully redundant hardware.

The technologies enable an easy migration to an Ethernet-based timing network with support for PTP, Network Time Protocol (NTP) and SyncE, as well as IRIG-B, PPS and BITS legacy interfaces. PTP-based backup combined with multi-band GNSS receivers and advanced monitoring capabilities ensure that the upgraded solutions provide highly reliable delivery of precise timing information even during long GNSS outages. And, to create an ePRTC solution, ADVA’s Oscilloquartz cesium clocks can also be combined with the OSA 5420, 5430 or 5440. This delivers extended holdover of up to 70 nanoseconds for 14 days, even when GNSS signals are unavailable.

“By optimizing our synchronization technology, we’re enabling power utilities to achieve the stringent levels of precision necessary for synchronization from the substation to the core of the smart grid network. Our comprehensive portfolio empowers utilities to complement and then replace their legacy timing protocols with PTP. What’s more, our continually evolving software supports the broadest range of interfaces and profiles, ensuring a solution ready to grow with future needs,” commented Nir Laufer, senior director, product line management, Oscilloquartz, ADVA. ”IRIG-B and NTP have served the utility industry well. But the future is all about PTP power profiles delivering new levels of precision and reliability to substations with or without GNSS. This upgrade ensures operators can rely on extremely accurate frequency, phase and time services without the threat of outages caused by jamming and spoofing.”