In an innovative leap for the tech sphere, HUBER+SUHNER has introduced the newest version of the world’s premier fibre-powered link void of copper. The upgraded version of the HUBER+SUHNER Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Power-over-Fiber solution is designed to cater for businesses, banks, and trading firms that necessitate precise time synchronisation.

This ground-breaking technology eliminates the need for a separate energy source for the powering of an active antenna in applications that utilise GNSS for timing, geodesy, navigation, and positioning. Furthermore, using GNSS enables the avoidance of voltage spikes, reduces the risk of spoofing, and allows for separate antenna positions for reliable signal transmission. The significantly enhanced GNSS and Power-over-Fiber solution will be showcased at this week’s OFC Exhibition in San Diego, California.

The HUBER+SUHNER GNSS and Power-over-Fiber solution offers unique advantages for businesses that depend on a software-based enterprise application for precise, time-based coordination and automation. According to Dominik Tibolla, Product Manager at HUBER+SUHNER, this is a choice technology for "companies, banks, and trading firms for timely and accurate data capture for immediate business data analysis". He further noted that "the success of companies operating across all time zones relies on precise time synchronisation to address challenges such as providing trading data, network component failure, and maintaining company databases".

Offering great accuracy and stability over long distances, the synchronisation of clocks via GNSS allows for precise time computation for every global location. Additionally, it serves as an accurate time reference for both Precision Time Protocol (PTP) and Network Time Protocol (NTP), currently the most common methods utilised for setting network devices' clocks. Using fibre optics for synchronisation reduces the risk of errors compared to traditional reference methods.

The world’s first copper-free fibre-powered link designed with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Power-over-Fiber solution, was initially introduced by HUBER+SUHNER. The newly advanced version of the technology has been equipped to meet the needs of any enterprise that demands precise time synchronisation, ensuring secure data transfer between data centres and from the cloud to the edge. This is achieved by maintaining all nodes in the database cluster consistent.

Following its premiere at OFC 2024, the GNSS and Power-over-Fiber solution will be on display at upcoming global events throughout the year, including the NAB Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the ANGA COM Exhibition in Cologne, Germany.