Comment by immibis
2 days ago
I believe LTE and 5G networks require it to coordinate timeslots between overlapping cells. Of course, they can use whatever reference they want, as long as all the cells are using the same one - it doesn't have to be UTC. Some (parts of) networks transmit it across the network, while others have independent GPS receivers at each cell site.
Synchronization is also required for SDH networks. Don't know if those are still used.
Someone else referenced low power ham radio modes like WSPR, which I also don't know much about, but I can imagine they have timeslots linked to UTC and require accuracy. Those modes have extremely low data rates and narrow bandwidths, requiring accurate synchronization. I don't know if they're designed to self-synchronize, or need an external reference.
When multiple transmitters are transmitting the same radio signal (e.g. TV) they might need to be synchronized to a certain phase relationship. Again, don't know much about it
WSPR doesn't require tight synchronization, but it does require pretty stable frequency sources over periods of 10s of seconds.
It is very common to integrate a GPS in a WSPR beacon to discipline the transmit frequency, but with modest thermal management, very ordinary crystal oscillators have very nice stability.