GÉANT has just published the results of its studies into the deployment of White Rabbit timing services into real-world data networks. As the need for effective, long-distance, time services increases, NRENs will be increasingly called upon to offer this facility to research projects distributed both nationally and internationally. The building of dedicated networking infrastructure used solely for this purpose is not scalable nor cost-effective and so the ability to provide this service using existing data networking is essential.
This report presents the findings of the Long-Haul White Rabbit Incubator project, evaluating the deployment of a high-accuracy time service using White Rabbit technology over long-haul optical DWDM networks. Tests were performed in both the laboratory and in the field.
These field trials, running from July 2025 to November 2025 on the Prague–Vienna GÉANT route, successfully demonstrated that 1.25 Gbps White Rabbit signals can coexist with 400G coherent data channels without any measurable impact on the Bit Error Rate (BER) of existing internet traffic.
The trials also assessed the different signal regeneration techniques used for White Rabbit services including pure optical amplification, opto-electrical amplification and the use of a cascading White Rabbit switch infrastructure, to identify use cases and different accuracy levels.
This white paper presents and analyses both the lab testing and field trials and provides a White Rabbit NREN Cost Calculator to guide NRENs in their own cost-benefit analysis for service delivery. It also provides best-practice recommendations to guide NRENs in selecting the most effective architecture for their synchronisation needs.”
Read the White Paper here
Download the White Paper Download the Cost Calculator
