Timing and synchronization in mobile telecommunication networks

Recent developments in mobile telecommunication networks offer a possibility for synchronization of mobile equipment. The possibility is explored here. To this end, a network operator is synchronized to the Lithuanian national time and frequency standard over internet via NTP (Network Time Protocol). A mobile testing system (MTS) created is synchronized to the operator´s network via a radio modem operating in one of the several different modes. The time scale of the MTS synchronized over the mobile telecommunication network is compared to that of the national standard to evaluate the synchronization accuracy and to find out that the most suitable operating mode for the modem is CSD (Circuit Switched Data), which is likely due to its dedicated and symmetrical nature.