TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking)
A set of IEEE 802.1 standards that give Ethernet deterministic service: bounded latency, low packet delay variation, and low loss for scheduled traffic.
The network analogy
QoS turned into a timetable. Instead of priority queues that favor traffic on average, bridges share a clock and open time windows for specific streams.
Why it matters for wireless
TSN is defined for bridged Ethernet, and extending it to networks that include wireless is still an open IEEE project. Treat a radio hop in a TSN path as the part without the guarantee.
The IEEE 802.1 TSN Task Group’s charter is deterministic connectivity through IEEE 802 networks: guaranteed packet transport with bounded latency, low packet delay variation, and low packet loss1. Its standards include 802.1AS for timing and synchronization, 802.1Qbv for scheduled traffic, 802.1CB for frame replication and elimination, and the IEC/IEEE 60802 profile for industrial automation.
PI describes TSN as using principles comparable to PROFINET IRT: precise time sync, cyclic communication, and a reserved real-time phase. Work on bridged networks that include wireless technologies (P802.1Qee) is still listed as an ongoing project.
About this page
Built from 2 sources: 1 standards body or lab and 1 protocol owner or alliance. Researched and drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed and approved by Ben Rutter on . How pages are made
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Cite this page
Plain
Ben Rutter. "TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking)." OT Wireless, published October 5, 2026. https://otwireless.com/glossary/tsn/
APA 7
Rutter, B. (2026, October 5). TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking). OT Wireless. https://otwireless.com/glossary/tsn/
BibTeX
@misc{rutter2026tsn,
author = {Rutter, Ben},
title = {{TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking)}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://otwireless.com/glossary/tsn/}},
organization = {OT Wireless},
}