Seiko Solutions Inc. (President: Jun Sekine, Headquarters: Chiba, Japan; hereinafter referred to as Seiko Solutions) showcased the research achievements of a joint project with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and other partners, developing a proof-of-concept model implementing Japan’s next-generation distributed time synchronization technology, “Cluster Clock.”
The prototype was exhibited at the NICT booth during CEATEC 2025, held at Makuhari Messe from October 14 (Tue) to 17 (Fri), 2025.
This R&D initiative, titled “Research and Development of High-Precision Time Synchronization Infrastructure for Efficient Utilization of Frequency Resources,” is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Beyond 5G (6G) Promotion Fund program. The project aims to establish high-precision, highly reliable time synchronization and distribution technologies essential for the next-generation network infrastructure of the 6G era.
Within the project, Seiko Solutions is responsible for research and development of wired time and frequency synchronization technology utilizing compact atomic clocks and is developing a proof-of-concept model implementing the distributed time synchronization algorithm known as Cluster Clock.
Proof-of-concept model of “Cluster Clock”
At the NICT booth during CEATEC 2025, Seiko Solutions demonstrated that this distributed synchronization technology can achieve 0.1-nanosecond-level synchronization accuracy, even in the complex and dynamic network environments required for 6G. The Cluster Clock technology maintains overall synchronization by mutually complementing time information among multiple clocks, providing a flexible and resilient synchronization method robust against network disruptions and variable delays. The demonstration attracted significant attention from visitors as a promising approach for next-generation network infrastructures.
Seiko Solutions will continue advancing research and development toward realizing time synchronization environments that deliver flexibility, robustness, reliability, and energy efficiency—key requirements for sustainable social infrastructure. Furthermore, by applying the outcomes of this project and strengthening collaborations with research institutions such as NICT and other industry partners, the company aims to contribute to the social implementation of ground-based, high-precision time distribution platforms that reduce excessive dependence on GNSS.
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