Which protocol provides millisecond timing accuracy for time synchronization?

The correct answer is PTP, or Precision Time Protocol. PTP is designed specifically for high-precision time synchronization in networked systems, providing timing accuracy within the sub-microsecond range, which is significantly better than alternatives like NTP.

PTP operates by allowing devices within a network to synchronize their clocks with an extremely high level of precision, which is particularly beneficial in environments where time-sensitive data processing is crucial, such as in telecommunications or financial services. Its ability to provide millisecond timing accuracy makes it the preferred choice for applications requiring high synchronization accuracy, such as in industrial automation and various types of real-time data services.

While NTP (Network Time Protocol) is widely used for synchronizing clocks over a packet-switched network and can achieve accuracy in the range of milliseconds to tens of milliseconds, it does not match the precision that PTP provides. UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), while relevant in networking, do not inherently provide time synchronization as part of their functionality. Therefore, the choice of PTP aligns perfectly with the requirement for millisecond timing accuracy in time synchronization.