| When you set your watch to perhaps the speaking | | | | Standards and Time (NIST) and the UK's National |
| clock or the time on the internet, have you ever | | | | Physical Laboratory (NPL) amongst others. |
| wondered who it is that sets those clocks and | | | | These organisations don't just help ensure UTC is as |
| checks that they are accurate? | | | | accurate as possible but they also provide a source |
| There is no single master clock used for the world's | | | | of UTC time available to the world's computer |
| timing but there are a constellation of clocks that are | | | | networks and technologies. |
| used as a basis for a universal timing system known | | | | To receive the time from these organisations, a NTP |
| as UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). | | | | time server (Network Time Server) is required. |
| UTC enables all the world's computer networks and | | | | These devices receive the broadcasts from places |
| other technology to talk to each other in perfect | | | | like NIST and NPL via long wave radio transmissions. |
| synchronicity which is vital in the modern world of | | | | The NTP server then distributes the timing signal |
| internet trading and global communication. | | | | across a network, adjusting individual system clocks |
| But as mentioned controlling UTC is not down to one | | | | to ensure that they are as accurate to UTC as |
| master clock, instead, a serious of highly precise | | | | possible. |
| atomic clocks based in different countries all work | | | | A single dedicated NTP server can synchronize a |
| together to produce a timing source that is based on | | | | computer network of hundreds and even thousands |
| the time told by them all. | | | | of machines and the accuracy of a network relying in |
| These UTC timekeepers include such notable | | | | UTC time from the broadcasts by NIST and NPL will |
| organisations as the USA's National Institute of | | | | also be highly precise. |