u-blox Integrates National Time Standard into GNSS Lab for Nanosecond-Accurate Timing Validation

u-blox, a global leader in positioning and short-range communication technologies, has announced the integration of Switzerland's UTC-traceable timing infrastructure into its GNSS test laboratory in Thalwil. This collaboration with the Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) and Switch, the operator of Switzerland's national research and education network, provides u-blox with continuous access to a UTC-traceable reference through an unbroken and documented chain of calibrations, ensuring full measurement traceability.

The significance of this development lies in the critical role that precise timing plays in GNSS technologies. GNSS timing receivers are used in various applications, including telecommunications, power grids, and financial systems, where synchronization to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is essential. By integrating the METAS time dissemination service directly into its laboratory, u-blox can now validate new hardware and software releases in-house, without needing to repeatedly access external metrology facilities. This capability accelerates the validation process and supports the development of next-generation GNSS timing products.

The infrastructure also enables long-term timing stability measurements over periods ranging from weeks to months against a stable UTC-traceable reference. This is crucial for ensuring that GNSS timing receivers maintain accuracy over extended periods, which is a key requirement for many industrial and scientific applications.

METAS realizes, maintains, and disseminates UTC(CH), Switzerland's contribution to Coordinated Universal Time, while Switch provides the fiber-optic network over which the timing signal is disseminated using White Rabbit technology. White Rabbit is an Ethernet-based synchronization technology originally developed at CERN for large-scale scientific infrastructure requiring ultra-precise timing accuracy. It enables sub-nanosecond synchronization over fiber-optic networks, and its adoption in this context highlights its growing role in industrial applications.

“High-performance GNSS timing products depend on rigorous and traceable timing validation throughout the development cycle,” said Samuli Pietilä, Director of Product Line Management, Timing and Infrastructure at u-blox. “This infrastructure allows us to validate and continuously improve GNSS timing receiver performance directly in our own laboratory against a UTC-traceable reference.”

Jacques Morel, Head of the Laboratory Photonics, Time and Frequency at METAS, added, “We are pleased to support u-blox with our time dissemination service. This collaboration demonstrates how national metrology infrastructure can support advanced industrial applications requiring highly accurate synchronization, timing precision, and traceable validation against UTC references.”

The collaboration also underscores the strength of Switzerland's precision technology ecosystem, bringing together national metrology expertise, optical timing infrastructure, and advanced GNSS timing technologies. The timing infrastructure is now operational in the u-blox GNSS laboratory and will support ongoing development and validation activities.

This initiative is especially important as GNSS timing becomes increasingly integral to critical infrastructure. With the growing reliance on GNSS for timing synchronization, ensuring that receivers are validated against trusted references is paramount. By bringing the national time standard directly into its testing environment, u-blox is not only enhancing its own product development but also contributing to the reliability of the broader timing ecosystem.

For more information about u-blox, visit u-blox. For more on METAS, visit METAS. For more on Switch, visit Switch.