VIAVI Launches Cesium-less ePRTC360+ Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clock as Alternative to Cesium-Accuracy Holdover Clock

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) launched the patent-pending Cesium-less ePRTC360+, an enhanced primary reference time clock that meets ITU-T G.8272.1 drift standards previously achieved only by Cesium clocks.

Rhea-AI Summary

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) launched the patent-pending Cesium-less ePRTC360+, an enhanced primary reference time clock that meets ITU-T G.8272.1 drift standards previously achieved only by Cesium clocks. The device maintains <100 ns long-term drift over 14 days and preserves timing during GNSS-denied threats via VIAVI's altGNSS GEO-L service.

The ePRTC360+ integrates with SecurePNT 6200, uses augmented anti-jam and anti-spoof antennas, avoids Cesium handling/export constraints, and will be demonstrated at MWC Barcelona 2026, March 2-5.

Positive

• Meets ITU-T G.8272.1 Cesium-level ePRTC drift performance
• Maintains 100 ns accuracy during GNSS-denied threats via altGNSS GEO-L
• Lower cost enables deployment at edge sites previously cost-prohibitive with Cesium
• Eliminates Cesium constraints: no tubes, export ECCN, long startup, or hazardous disposal

Negative

• ePRTC360+ performance depends on VIAVI's proprietary altGNSS GEO-L service and SecureTime GEO antenna

Argus Feb 17 session

+0.04% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – VIAV

On Feb 17, the day this news came out, VIAV closed 0.04% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Feb 17 session.

Key Figures

Short-term drift limit: < 30 ns Long-term drift limit: < 100 ns over 14 days Holdover accuracy: 100 ns +5 more

Short-term drift limit

< 30 ns

ITU‑T G.8272.1 ePRTC holdover requirement when entering holdover

Long-term drift limit

< 100 ns over 14 days

ITU‑T G.8272.1 ePRTC holdover requirement traceable to UTC

Holdover accuracy

100 ns

Maintained during GNSS-denied threats via altGNSS GEO-L service

Cesium tube replacement

≈7 years

Typical replacement interval for Cesium tubes in Cesium clocks

MWC Barcelona 2026 dates

March 2–5, 2026

First public demonstration of ePRTC360+ at Mobile World Congress

Standard reference

ITU‑T G.8272.1

Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clock drift standard met by ePRTC360+

GNSS learning period

up to 40 days

Long learning period cited as a constraint for Cesium clocks

Cesium tube lifecycle

≈7 years

Replacement cycle contributing to higher Cesium clock ownership costs

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 29

5 events

1. Jan 29

   Navigation system launch

   24h Move

   +17.4%

   Launch of IRINS LEO‑aided inertial navigation system for D3SOE environments.

2. Jan 28

   Earnings results

   24h Move

   +1.6%

   Fiscal Q2 2026 results with revenue growth and positive non-GAAP income.

3. Jan 14

   Earnings date notice

   24h Move

   -1.3%

   Announcement of date and logistics for fiscal Q2 2026 earnings release.

4. Jan 14

   Edge platform expansion

   24h Move

   -1.3%

   Expansion of XEdge edge monitoring platform with new sensor options.

5. Jan 14

   Correction notice

   24h Move

   -1.3%

   Correction detailing enhancements to the XEdge monitoring platform release.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

itu-t g.8272.1, gnss, rubidium holdover oscillator, eccn 3a001.i, +1 more

5 terms

itu-t g.8272.1 technical

"Only alternative to Cesium clocks to meet ITU-T G.8272.1 drift standard..."

ITU‑T G.8272.1 is an international technical standard that sets performance and testing requirements for equipment that distributes very precise time and phase information across packet data networks. Like rules for synchronizing many clocks in a city so traffic lights and trains stay in step, it ensures network gear meets strict timing accuracy needed for services such as mobile networks, financial trading, and power grids—information investors use to judge product competitiveness and regulatory compliance.

gnss technical

"threat of GNSS timing disruptions. It is the only alternative..."

GNSS stands for Global Navigation Satellite System, a network of satellites that provide precise location and timing information anywhere on Earth, like a constantly available digital map and clock. It matters to investors because many industries—transportation, agriculture, telecom, finance and defense—rely on this positioning and timing for products, services and critical infrastructure; improvements or disruptions in GNSS can change costs, create new revenue streams, or introduce operational risk.

rubidium holdover oscillator technical

"provides ... timing reference for the ePRTC360+'s internal Rubidium holdover oscillator"

A rubidium holdover oscillator is a compact timekeeper that uses the natural vibration frequency of rubidium atoms to keep precise time when a primary timing source (like GPS) becomes unavailable. For investors, it matters because these devices act like a reliable backup watch for networks and critical infrastructure—preserving synchronization that affects transaction timestamps, telecom quality, and regulatory compliance, and thus the value and reliability of businesses that depend on precise timing.

eccn 3a001.i regulatory

"the need for ECCN 3A001.i licenses for export, long GNSS learning period"

A U.S. Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) entry on the Commerce Control List for certain electronic equipment and components that are considered sensitive enough to require export review; the suffix “.i” denotes a specific subcategory within that entry. For investors this matters because items under this code may need government licenses to be sold abroad, which can limit market access, delay shipments, and increase compliance costs—similar to needing a special permit to ship a product to some countries.

grandmaster clock system technical

"designed for rapid and easy integration into any vendor's grandmaster clock system."

A grandmaster clock system is the primary, highly accurate timekeeper that all devices on a trading or networked system synchronize to, ensuring every event gets the same precise timestamp. Investors should care because consistent, auditable time records are essential for regulatory compliance, fair trade sequencing and resolving disputes—think of it as the town clock or orchestra conductor that keeps every participant perfectly in step to avoid costly errors or penalties.

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Only alternative to Cesium clocks to meet ITU-T G.8272.1 drift standard, with no time limit and at a fraction of the cost

CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VIAVI Solutions Inc. (VIAVI) (NASDAQ: VIAV) has launched the patent-pending Cesium-less ePRTC360+™ holdover solution to safeguard at-risk critical power grids, transportation, aviation and public safety systems, 5G mobile networks and AI data center infrastructure against the increased threat of GNSS timing disruptions. It is the only alternative to Cesium clocks to meet ITU-T G.8272.1 standards.

The international ITU-T G.8272.1 standard stipulates that Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clock (ePRTC) holdover must have short-term drift of less than 30 ns when entering into holdover and a long-term drift of less than 100 ns over 14 days, all traceable to UTC. Previously achieved only by Cesium atomic clocks, VIAVI's ePRTC360+ now also meets this standard.

"The Cesium-less ePRTC360+ exceeds leading-edge Cesium-level holdover performance and does this for significantly lower price. This enables deployment across the sync network, particularly at edge sites which were previously cost-prohibitive with Cesium holdover clocks," said Doug Russell, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Aerospace and Defense, VIAVI.

The ePRTC360+ has been successfully tested across a range of live-sky defense and commercial jamming/spoofing environments, and has been integrated into VIAVI's SecurePNT™ 6200 product series. The technology can maintain 100 ns accuracy during GNSS-denied threats through the resilient altGNSS GEO-L service with no time limit. It also combines an augmented VIAVI SecureTime^SM GEO anti-jamming antenna and an enhanced GNSS anti-spoofing antenna that also receive eGNSS GEO service with GPS/GNSS-NMA authentication for spoofing detection and mitigation.

Unlike conventional GNSS omni-directional signals, which can be drowned out by low-power interference, VIAVI's exclusive and GNSS-independent GEO-L service leverages encrypted and highly directional L-band signals transmitted from geostationary satellites. Coupled with the augmented VIAVI SecureTime GEO antenna, the altGNSS GEO-L service provides enhanced anti-jamming protection and a resilient timing reference for the ePRTC360+'s internal Rubidium holdover oscillator and enables smooth multi-orbit source switchover, even when primary GNSS frequencies are jammed, spoofed or subject to sophisticated meaconing attacks.

The affordability of ePRTC360+ clocks compared to Cesium clocks enable operators to deploy them beyond the core and across the network. They also complement non-RF Cesium clocks at the core. This boosts end-to-end sync network robustness and holdover reliability through meshed network PTP feeds as backup between the clocks, especially in case of local or regional jamming and/or spoofing threats.

In addition, the ePRTC360+ addresses constraints posed by the use of Cesium clocks for holdover timing. These include sensitivity to shock, delicate and multi-stage startup procedures that take days to complete, the need for ECCN 3A001.i licenses for export, long GNSS learning period of up to 40 days, as well as strict shipping and storage protocols. In addition, Cesium tubes need to be replaced approximately every seven years, and the dismantling and disposal of Cesium clocks are classified as a hazard due to their material content.

The ePRTC360+ eliminates these hurdles and has been designed for rapid and easy integration into any vendor's grandmaster clock system. It enables operators to meet stringent ePRTC requirements while reducing total cost of ownership.

The ePRTC360+ will be demonstrated for the first time at VIAVI's Stand 5B18 at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2026, which takes place March 2-5 in Barcelona, Spain.

About VIAVI
VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global leader in test and measurement and optical technologies. Our test, monitoring, assurance, and resilient position, navigation and timing solutions enable and secure critical infrastructure ranging from data center ecosystems and communication networks to military, aerospace, railway and first responder communications. In addition, we develop and advance technologies used in high-volume optical applications across anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, aerospace, industrial and automotive end markets.

Learn more about VIAVI at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on VIAVI Perspectives, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Media Inquiries:
Grand Bridges
Emma Jenkins
emma@grandbridges.com
+1 415 800 4529

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SOURCE VIAVI Solutions

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What ITU-T standard does VIAVI ePRTC360+ meet and why does it matter to investors in VIAV?

The ePRTC360+ meets ITU-T G.8272.1, matching Cesium-level holdover drift limits. According to the company, this standard requires <30 ns short-term drift and <100 ns over 14 days, a technical benchmark that broadens market applicability for timing infrastructure.

How does the ePRTC360+ maintain timing during GNSS disruptions for VIAV customers?

It preserves accuracy using VIAVI's altGNSS GEO-L service and enhanced antennas. According to the company, encrypted L-band signals from geostationary satellites plus SecureTime GEO antenna enable resilient timing and anti-jamming/anti-spoof protection.

What cost and operational advantages does the ePRTC360+ offer compared with Cesium clocks for VIAV buyers?

The ePRTC360+ is substantially lower cost and easier to deploy across the network. According to the company, it removes Cesium-specific logistics like lengthy startups, tube replacements and hazardous disposal, reducing total cost of ownership.

Will VIAVI show the ePRTC360+ live, and where can investors see a demonstration of VIAV technology?

VIAVI will demonstrate the ePRTC360+ at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026. According to the company, the first public demonstration is at VIAVI Stand 5B18 during MWC, March 2-5, 2026.

How is the ePRTC360+ integrated into VIAVI's product lineup and customer solutions for VIAV stakeholders?

The ePRTC360+ integrates into the SecurePNT 6200 series to provide resilient timing across networks. According to the company, it pairs with augmented anti-jam and anti-spoof antennas and complements non-RF Cesium clocks at the core.