On Tuesday, 10 March 2026, the second workshop on Belgian Time and Frequency Services (BTFS) took place, bringing together around thirty interested participants at the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) to discuss the latest developments and applications. By using optical network connections for the distribution of time and frequency signals, this technology is immune to GNSS threats such as jamming and spoofing, significantly increasing the reliability of the signals.
Expansion of the Belgian network
The workshop was opened by Koen Lefevere of Belspo, sponsor of the BOOSTED project, which aims to develop an optical network for time and frequency transfer. Raphaël Marion (ROB) then gave an update on the status of the Belgian T&F network. He explained the commissioning of the first connection in December 2025 and outlined the ambitious expansion plans for 2026. New connections are planned to, among others, the metrology service of the FPS Economy and the universities of Mons and Louvain-la-Neuve. A link with GÉANT’s pan-European core time & frequency network (C-TFN) is also on the roadmap.
Need for a robust network
Although BTFS was originally set up for scientific research, interest from other sectors is growing rapidly. In particular, the telecom, energy, and transport sectors are showing interest in an independent and highly accurate time signal to strengthen the security and reliability of their critical infrastructures. This evolution closely aligns with the vision of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). In a presentation, Lukasz Bonenberg emphasised the importance of robust, terrestrial time-synchronisation networks that are independent of GNSS. According to the JRC, such networks are essential for building a resilient European Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) system.
The Netherlands and Switzerland
International experiences were also discussed. The Dutch organisation SURF proudly announced the launch of its national time and frequency network for research and education. Since January 2026, a White Rabbit time-synchronisation signal from the National Metrology Institute VSL in Delft has been distributing the official UTC(VSL) time to eleven locations via SURF’s fibre network.
In addition, METAS, the Swiss national metrology institute, shared several concrete applications of its network. In Switzerland, a 450-kilometre network is now operational for the distribution of White Rabbit time signals, mainly used by the financial sector, defence, and telecom. In addition, an optical frequency signal is also being distributed for advanced scientific applications, including precision spectroscopy and fibre sensing.
Technology and innovation
The second part of the workshop focused in greater detail on the technical aspects. Lisa Van Loo (Belnet) and Guillaume Le Portz (ROB) presented the architecture of the BTFS network and shared excellent monitoring results from the first connections.
Net Insight then presented its Zyntai technology, an innovative solution that works as an overlay on top of existing IP networks. By statistically weighting different time sources, this technology, which is compatible with the BTFS network, succeeds in distributing an accurate time signal over long distances, with performance positioned between PTP and WR.
Finally, Prof. Kasper Van Gasse of the Photonics Research Group (UGent and imec) provided insight into ongoing research on integrated photonics. This research focuses on the development of more compact, more robust, and more efficiently manufacturable lasers, with applications in metrology and quantum technology.
The workshop concluded with an informal reception, where participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and explore new collaborations. This second edition clearly confirmed the growing importance of reliable time distribution and the strong interest from both the scientific community and industry.
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