3 minute read
At the heart of enabling new technologies, economic growth and opportunities beyond what currently exists sits an ‘invisible utility’ that we rely on daily but that we don’t give a second thought to...time.
With an increasing reliance on a rapidly accelerating digital infrastructure, thanks to remote working, autonomous vehicles, widespread AI use and a thriving smart infrastructure, comes an increased need for reliable time.
If we look to more ‘traditional’ sectors, such as energy, banking and transport the reliance on a time enabled digital infrastructure is also clear.
In the energy sector, different parts of the system must operate in phase and need to be synchronised to ensure power can be distributed reliably. This is increasingly important as the grid becomes more decentralised, our power demands continue to rise, and more and more renewable sources feed the grid.
In the financial sector prices are fluctuating all the time and the correct price must be charged at the time of a particular transaction. Banks and high-frequency traders can execute orders on stocks and futures exchanges in milliseconds, or thousandths of a second. Some already trade in microseconds (millionths of a second) and even nanoseconds (billionths of a second). To put this into perspective, the average time it takes to simply click a mouse button is around 150,000 microseconds. Or 400,000 microseconds for a blink of an eye. To keep track of this activity, data packets are time stamped as they move through financial networks.
This is important as organisations working without access to a single reliable common time cannot provide a synchronised time stamp. As a result, this means transactions across locations and stock exchanges are impossible to audit and any issues difficult to detect.
Road, rail, marine and air transport use time for navigation and additional services such as air traffic control and container tracking. In essence, time keeps all of these sectors moving and allows our modern world to function smoothly and seamlessly.
Global navigation satellite systems, particularly the US Global Positioning System (GPS), has been a transformational capability to service not only our positioning and navigational needs, but is also the (lesser known) means by which our digital infrastructure accesses precise time.
Over the years this has enabled a plethora of innovations that we rely on every day. With it, however, has come dependency. Availability of multiple methodologies to access time for use cases across sectors, particularly assured and managed services, offers the ability to develop resilient solutions, ensure business continuity, and realise benefits to prosperity and growth through infrastructure, skills, supply chain and innovation.
Programmes of activity like the National Timing Centre, focusing on ensuring assured time is available to users, will allow the UK to enhance its position as a global leader in technology and innovation in new and emerging technologies, driving long-term economic growth.
Secure, resilient and trusted time instils confidence in the efficient and reliable operation of the digital services we rely on every day for the benefit of society, which is why it needs to be considered and protected. Becoming an underpinning capability that is no longer invisible.
12 Nov 2025