New ATIS Report Addresses Resilient Timing Architecture for 5G Communications Networks
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2026 — ATIS has released a new report addressing a longstanding telecommunications industry challenge: the reliance on increasingly vulnerable Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technologies for network timing and synchronization. Resilient Timing Architecture for 5G Communications Networks examines the GNSS vulnerabilities facing the sector and outlines resilient architectural approaches to mitigate those risks. It also provides guidance for network operators, equipment manufacturers, policymakers, and the broader timing community.
“Reliable timing and synchronization are foundational to the performance and security of 5G networks,” said Lee Cosart (Microchip Technology), Chair of SYNC, ATIS’ Synchronization Committee, which developed the report. “As threats such as GPS jamming, spoofing, and service disruptions become more sophisticated, the industry must adopt resilient timing strategies that reduce dependence on any single timing source and strengthen the integrity of critical communications infrastructure. This report represents a major contribution to industry efforts to improve the resilience, reliability, and security of the timing architectures that underpin 5G and next-generation communications networks.”
Alternative sources of timing for critical infrastructure covered include network-based timing services using Precision Time Protocol (PTP), guidance on resilient network-based timing architectures, centralized timing architecture using High Accuracy Time Transfer (HA-TT), Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clocks (ePRTC), and autonomous time scales for long-term outage protection.
“The development of Resilient Timing Architecture for 5G Communications Networks shows the strength of ATIS’ model of industry collaboration in action,” said Susan Miller, President and CEO of ATIS. “In this case, to address an issue of essential network security — and one of the essential factors that keeps our communications ‘in sync’ 24/7.”
Access ATIS-0900006 Resilient Timing Architecture for 5G Communications Networks.
