Applications of precise time and frequency to current and future NATO SATCOM

Precise time and frequency (PT&F) play an increasingly important role in digital communication systems and networks. The applications of PT&F to NATO SATCOM are reviewed. The focus is on end-to-end digital communication via NATO SATCOM. Special considerations for mobile terminals and aspects relevant to the spread spectrum network are also examined, as they tend to drive PT&F requirements. An overall timing and synchronization concept is proposed, and the requirements for PT&F are identified; from generation and dissemination of PT&F within NATO SATCOM, to accommodation of time and frequency variations essential to the integration of SATCOM and terrestrial networks. The paper concludes with an examination of possible future applications of PT&F within NATO SATCOM