TOP-IX launches Italy’s first time-as-a-service solution with Adtran Oscilloquartz technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Adtran has announced that Turin and Piedmont Internet Exchange (TOP-IX) has launched Italy's first time-as-a-service (TaaS) solution using Adtran Oscilloquartz technology. The service, developed in partnership with Italy's National Institute of Metrological Research, utilizes Oscilloquartz edge grandmaster devices across TOP-IX's fiber network.

The solution employs Adtran's OSA 5410XG and OSA 5412 grandmaster clocks, featuring multiple 10Gbit/s ports and Syncjack™ technology for real-time performance monitoring. This infrastructure provides precise timing and synchronization services to various sectors including finance, healthcare, and logistics, offering a cost-effective alternative to building private timing systems.

The service delivers a secure and reliable alternative to GNSS systems, with features including jamming and spoofing detection, multi-band GNSS receivers, and timing assurance capabilities. The implementation marks a significant advancement in Italy's digital infrastructure, enabling organizations to access precise timing services without investing in expensive dedicated systems.

Positive

• First-mover advantage in Italian market with unique TaaS solution
• Technology enables new revenue stream through timing services
• Solution scales rapidly with high-bandwidth capability (10Gbit/s)
• Strategic partnership with Italy's National Institute of Metrological Research

Negative

• None.

Insights

Telecommunications Infrastructure Expert

Adtran's partnership with TOP-IX represents a strategic expansion of its Oscilloquartz technology into critical European infrastructure. By providing the technology backbone for Italy's first time-as-a-service solution, Adtran secures a foothold in a specialized but increasingly essential market segment where timing precision is paramount for sectors including finance, healthcare, and logistics.

The deployment's strategic value lies in its positioning as a GNSS alternative - addressing growing concerns about timing vulnerabilities in satellite-dependent systems. With features like jamming and spoofing detection built into their OSA 5410XG and OSA 5412 grandmaster clocks, Adtran is directly addressing cybersecurity concerns that have become increasingly prominent in critical infrastructure protection discussions across Europe.

While most telecom equipment partnerships focus on bandwidth and connectivity, this implementation targets the often-overlooked but vital timing and synchronization layer that underpins modern networks. The collaboration with Italy's National Institute of Metrological Research adds significant credibility and could serve as a template for similar national-level deployments across Europe, particularly as countries seek to strengthen infrastructure resilience against external threats.

Precision Timing Technology Specialist

The technical specifications revealed in this deployment highlight Adtran's competitive advantages in the precision timing market. Their OSA 5410XG's support for multiple 10Gbit/s ports addresses a critical bottleneck in timing distribution networks, while the Syncjack™ monitoring technology enables real-time performance verification - essential for mission-critical applications where timing failures can have cascading effects.

What makes this implementation particularly notable is its architectural approach as a network-delivered timing service rather than isolated timing appliances. This represents a shift toward timing-as-a-service models that can significantly reduce deployment costs for end users while creating recurring revenue opportunities for providers like TOP-IX and, by extension, technology suppliers like Adtran.

The low-touch provisioning capabilities mentioned suggest Adtran has overcome one of the traditional barriers to timing network expansion - complex configuration requirements. This technical advantage enables TOP-IX to rapidly scale their offerings without proportional increases in operational complexity. As precision timing requirements extend beyond traditional telecom applications into emerging areas like distributed computing and industrial automation, Adtran's technology appears well-positioned to capture growth in this specialized but expanding market segment.

News summary:

• Internet exchange needed a cost-effective way to deliver precise timing and synchronization to its members and partners
• Adtran’s Oscilloquartz technology rapidly scales, enabling TOP-IX to offer ultra-reliable NTP and PTP services across Italy
• Solution delivers a robust alternative to GNSS, enabling precise timing for critical sectors

TURIN, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Adtran today announced that the Turin and Piedmont Internet Exchange (TOP-IX) has launched Italy’s first time-as-a-service (TaaS) solution using Adtran Oscilloquartz technology. Delivered in collaboration with Italy’s National Institute of Metrological Research and other strategic partners, the service leverages Oscilloquartz edge grandmaster devices deployed across TOP-IX’s dedicated fiber network. This solution provides precise timing and synchronization to organizations across Italy and beyond, supporting sectors such as finance, healthcare and logistics.

Adtran’s network synchronization technology is helping TOP-IX deliver Italy’s first TaaS solution. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Today, mission-critical industries require uninterrupted access to precise timing and synchronization,” said Andrea Casalegno, managing director at TOP-IX. “But developing and providing dedicated timing infrastructure can be expensive and resource-intensive, putting it out of reach for many organizations. That’s why we introduced our new TaaS offering, which is a secure and reliable alternative to GNSS systems. As the first service of its kind in Italy, it provides our customers with a highly cost-effective and accessible way to achieve the precision synchronization required for even the most demanding applications. Built on Adtran’s scalable and flexible Oscilloquartz technology and underpinned by national metrological standards, this solution ensures unmatched accuracy and reliability.”

Adtran’s OSA 5410XG and OSA 5412 grandmaster clocks provide the backbone of TOP-IX’s TaaS platform. The OSA 5410XG’s compact design and high-speed capabilities, including multiple 10Gbit/s ports, enable TOP-IX to meet the increasing demands of high-bandwidth applications while ensuring rapid scalability. Both devices feature Syncjack^™ technology, which gives TOP-IX and its customers real-time performance monitoring, ensuring uninterrupted synchronization even in the face of external threats. With low-touch provisioning, the devices can be easily deployed, empowering TOP-IX to offer a secure and affordable alternative to building private timing infrastructures.

“This is a major milestone for Italy’s digital infrastructure, enabling organizations to access precise and secure timing without the need for costly dedicated systems,” commented Stuart Broome, GM of EMEA sales at Adtran. “Our technology offers features like jamming and spoofing detection, multi-band GNSS receivers and timing assurance to ensure highly accurate and secure synchronization. With their compact, cost-effective design and low-touch provisioning, our devices enable TOP-IX to quickly deploy services across its network and meet the growing demand for ultra-reliable timing. What’s more, by supporting compliance with evolving PNT standards, our solutions help TOP-IX future-proof its offerings and strengthen Italy’s national timing infrastructure.”

About Adtran

ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN and FSE: QH9) is the parent company of Adtran, Inc., a leading global provider of open, disaggregated networking and communications solutions that enable voice, data, video and internet communications across any network infrastructure. From the cloud edge to the subscriber edge, Adtran empowers communications service providers around the world to manage and scale services that connect people, places and things. Adtran solutions are used by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations and millions of individual users worldwide. ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. is also the majority shareholder of Adtran Networks SE, formerly ADVA Optical Networking SE. Find more at Adtran, LinkedIn and X.

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ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.

www.adtran.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250313983421/en/

For media

Gareth Spence

+44 1904 699 358

public.relations@adtran.com

For investors

Peter Schuman

+1 256 963 6305

investor@adtran.com

Source: ADTRAN Holdings, Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of TOP-IX's new time-as-a-service solution using ADTN technology?

It's Italy's first TaaS solution, providing cost-effective precise timing and synchronization services across multiple sectors, offering an alternative to expensive private timing infrastructure.

What key features does ADTN's Oscilloquartz technology offer in the TOP-IX implementation?

It includes 10Gbit/s ports, Syncjack™ monitoring, jamming/spoofing detection, and multi-band GNSS receivers for secure synchronization.

Which industries will benefit from TOP-IX's new ADTN-powered timing service?

Finance, healthcare, and logistics sectors will benefit from the precise timing and synchronization services.

How does TOP-IX's ADTN solution improve upon traditional GNSS systems?

It provides a more secure, reliable, and cost-effective alternative to GNSS, with built-in protection against external threats and continuous performance monitoring.