This European Telecommunication Standard (ETS) specifies the architectural principles that should be applied for the design of synchronization networks that are suitable for the synchronization of Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH) networks. It supports the construction of synchronization networks that support both the short term stability requirements of SDH networks and the long term stability requirements of PDH networks. It applies to the design of new synchronization networks. It does not characterize existing PDH synchronization networks.