[Interview Reprint]Cao Hui, Partner of Saisi Electronics: Time and Frequency are the Foundation of the Information Age

"Time and frequency are the heartbeat of our digital society. Saisi is a leading player in this field, offering end-to-end solutions for the entire industrial chain. From a single time-frequency chip to a complete system, we can handle it all," said Cao Hui, Partner and Deputy General Manager of Saisi Electronics, in an exclusive interview. Since its founding in 2013, Saisi has been dedicated to developing time-frequency system products and solutions, steadfastly pursuing a path of professional excellence.

Time-frequency, namely time and frequency. The time we observe daily is generated and maintained by high-frequency stable sources, and the precision of frequency determines the accuracy of time. With the advancement of science and technology, time-frequency has evolved into one of the critical supporting technologies for information technology, playing a pivotal role in economic development, national security, and social life.

Cao Hui noted that amid the rapid evolution of information technology, Saisi seized the opportunities of the era to achieve rapid corporate growth. To date, Saisi Electronics has been recognized as a national high-tech enterprise by the Zhejiang Provincial Government, a key small and medium-sized innovative enterprise supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and a national specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprise. The company has undertaken major projects including the clock synchronization network for backbone networks and major projects for China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom.

01 Reconstructing the Time-Frequency Revolution

Cao Hui once worked at Huawei Japan and started a business in China at the end of 2013, mainly developing GNSS timing products. When discussing the differences between the two companies, Cao Hui said Huawei has a significant platform effect, which allows capabilities to be built on organization and processes, and its technical strength is fully recognized by the market and customers. Saisi is a startup company. Whether it's hiring, processes (product development, marketing), everything is refined and built step by step. It relies on solid technology to establish strong competitiveness among customers. Startups need a long cycle to gain customer trust.

Fortunately, over the past decade, Saisi has established its brand in the time-frequency domain. Today, when clients seek time-frequency solutions, Saisi is often their first choice.

In the time-frequency domain, Saisi still faces significant competition, including from listed companies. Cao Hui noted that Saisi's ability to stand out among numerous rivals stems from three unique strengths: First, its end-to-end solutions cover various industries. Second, in the field of hard technology, Saisi has achieved excellence in key metrics such as time synchronization accuracy and stability, leading the industry in specialized domains. Lastly, Saisi can establish large-scale time and frequency networks, such as the 5G time-frequency synchronization network for the three major telecom operators, which Saisi is actively promoting. It also drives the development of power backbone networks. The capability to manage large-scale national time networks is a crucial competitive advantage for Saisi.

In 2017, Saisi established its clock chip division, and in 2018, it independently developed the fully digital phase-locked loop ADPLL. In 2020, it successively released the world's first GNSS-integrated clock SOC chip and China's first 5G clock generator chip. Cao Hui told reporters that chip development requires extensive experience and a long R&D cycle, and Saisi has made early moves in this field.

02 Proactively expand globally, earning trust through cutting-edge technology

With the improvement of Saisi's product competitiveness and popularity, it has gradually formed a certain brand effect and customer base in the industry. Especially in some advantageous fields, Saisi's time-frequency products have gradually stepped out of China to serve an increasing number of overseas customer groups. Following a long-term strategic cooperation with a renowned Japanese operator, in 2022, it successfully established a partnership with Mexico City Metro, empowering the modernization of Line 1's communication system.

"China companies go global by relying on technology. They choose you because you have unique technology and solutions. Only when technology is leading and irreplaceable can it gain recognition from international clients," said Cao Hui. After years of accumulation and refinement, Saisi has gradually aligned with international standards in terms of product technology, service models, and brand building, gaining a certain international influence. In 2022, Saisi established the o-b-d (Overseas Business Division) in Beijing, preparing for its official entry into overseas markets. Under the trend of economic globalization, Saisi will ride the wave of the Belt and Road to serve more overseas clients and empower China's intelligent manufacturing to go global.

"Technology must ultimately serve humanity and society. Any innovation that fails to become a practical product capable of benefiting people and society deserves serious scrutiny," Cao Hui concluded his interview. He emphasized that Saisi has steadfastly rooted its development philosophy in core values, expanded its market presence through strategic growth, and sustained its brand growth with technological innovation. The company is committed to expanding its reach to more customers and diverse communities, thereby making greater contributions to society.