[Discuss] cell Network time no longer provided

[kentborg at borg.org (Kent Borg)]

On 03/16/2015 09:46 AM, Shirley M?rquez D?lcey wrote:
> CDMA networks (Verizon, Sprint, and their MVNOs) are unlikely to make
> that change because they MUST have accurate time sources available at
> every cell site.

They have to have precise timing to make CDMA soft-hand-off work, but 
does that necessarily translate into providing the civilian time 
information that the phone OS is looking for?

"Time", in a physics sense, is pretty simple. Some cool relatively 
stuff, and questions about why it is unidirectional, not withstanding.

But "time", in a civilian sense is complicated as hell: We want it to 
line up with contradictory celestial stuff and the changing whims of law 
makers on various levels of government and in various geographies.

Providing precise phase information to CDMA isn't the same as knowing 
when daylight saving time begins. Might they have just dumped the 
civilian part? Remember, GPS time is now many seconds off of the 
seconds-portion of civilian time.

Also, aren't the old GSM carriers now using updated protocols that are 
getting all spread spectrum on us? Do they need some of that precise 
timing coordination now, too?

-kb