Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) has unveiled SkyWire™, a new time measurement capability embedded within the BlueSky™ GNSS Firewall 2200, designed to measure, align, and verify network clocks to within nanoseconds — even when they are separated by vast geographic distances. This innovation addresses the growing demand for ultra-precise time alignment in sectors such as data centers, power utilities, telecommunications, transportation, and financial services.
Accurate time synchronization is essential for the reliable functioning of critical infrastructure. Network operators must measure and compare their timing references against Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to maintain operational integrity. Traditionally, nanosecond-level clock comparisons were limited to metrology laboratories and scientific institutions. Microchip’s SkyWire technology makes this level of precision accessible to commercial and public infrastructure networks for the first time.
With SkyWire integrated into the BlueSky GNSS Firewall 2200, distributed timing systems can be compared with each other and with UTC traceable systems at national metrology labs, achieving nanosecond accuracy. This allows operators of air traffic control systems, utility grids, wireless and wireline networks, and financial systems to maintain synchronized operations across multiple locations with exceptional reliability and resilience.
“To meet stringent timing accuracy requirements, it’s essential to measure and validate clock performance independently and relative to UTC, as maintained by national laboratories and traceable to the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM),” said Randy Brudzinski, Corporate Vice President of Microchip’s Frequency and Timing Systems business unit. “SkyWire technology extends UTC accessibility to large-scale clock networks, enabling independent verification across wide geographies.”
The development of SkyWire builds on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Time Measurement and Analysis Service (TMAS), which has long supported organizations that require precise local time standards. The BlueSky GNSS Firewall 2200 with SkyWire provides a commercial off-the-shelf solution for connecting large clock networks to NIST’s TMAS Data Service, simplifying traceable time measurement at scale.
“At NIST, our mission is to support the nation’s infrastructure with the most accurate time possible,” said Andrew Novick, Engineer at NIST. “Combining our TMAS Data Service with commercial solutions creates a scalable, traceable timing framework available to a wide range of users.”
Globally, other countries can replicate this model using SkyWire capabilities within Microchip’s TimePictra® software suite, which offers similar functionality to the NIST TMAS Data Service. By deploying TimePictra alongside the BlueSky GNSS Firewall 2200, metrology institutes, government agencies, and enterprises can implement complete, traceable, end-to-end time measurement and verification systems.
With more than 75 years of leadership in timing technologies, Microchip provides a comprehensive portfolio ranging from compact server cards to multi-rack national time scale systems. As a trusted contributor to the world’s official timekeeping infrastructure, the company continues to deliver reliable, secure, and innovative timing solutions.
Microchip Technology Inc is a leading provider of smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions. Its extensive product portfolio, supported by robust development tools, helps customers bring innovative designs from concept to production efficiently. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip serves global markets including industrial, automotive, aerospace and defense, communications, computing, and consumer electronics.
