March 2025 Vol. 23 No. 3

View from the Top

• Yutaka Sasaki, President and Chief Executive Officer, NTT DATA Group Corporation

  

  Abstract
  NTT DATA is providing information technology services to clients in over 50 countries and regions worldwide. To help create a more affluent and harmonious society, it offers various services for transforming business using digital technology and solving social issues. We talked with Yutaka Sasaki, president and chief executive officer of NTT DATA Group Corporation, about the business strategy of NTT DATA under the new organizational structure and his aspirations for the new fiscal year.

Front-line Researchers

• Wataru Yamada, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories

  

  Abstract
  Used for mobile communications and other purposes, radio waves are a limited resource, and their frequencies are allocated and registered globally according to the intended use by the International Telecommunication Union - Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R). The frequencies allocated are then regulated and used in each country. The number and types of services using radio waves, including wireless mobile communications, have been rapidly increasing. Although technological advances have enabled new frequency bands to be explored and allocated, radio-frequency resources continue to be scarce, and resolving this issue has become urgent to address the increasing use of radio waves in the future. Wataru Yamada, a senior distinguished researcher at NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories, is striving to effectively use available frequencies and explore new frequency bands by developing the real-time wireless-quality-estimation platform, which applies quantum annealing and other technologies to radio-wave propagation. We spoke with him about his approach to overcoming the limits on radio resources, research style, and passion for continuing to take up new challenges.

Rising Researchers

• Masaaki Nishino, Distinguished Researcher, NTT Communication Science Laboratories

  

  Abstract
  In recent years, the increase in communication speeds has accelerated the development and use of applications that process large amounts of data. This has led to a growing collective need for high-speed, large-volume data processing. In response to such collective challenges, we spoke with Distinguished Researcher Masaaki Nishino, who is researching algorithms that compress and process data according to patterns to make data processing faster and more efficient.

Feature Articles: Keynote Speeches at NTT R&D FORUM 2024 - IOWN INTEGRAL

• Akira Shimada, President and Chief Executive Officer, NTT Corporation

  

  Abstract
  This article presents NTT’s research and development efforts to address social challenges through the Industry AI (artificial intelligence) Cloud powered by the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN). It is based on the keynote speech given by Akira Shimada, NTT president and chief executive officer, at the “NTT R&D FORUM 2024 - IOWN INTEGRAL” held from November 25th to 29th, 2024.

• Shingo Kinoshita, Senior Vice President, Head of Research and Development Planning, NTT Corporation

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces the initiatives, practical examples, and future outlook of NTT’s large language model “tsuzumi” and the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN). It is based on the keynote speech given by Shingo Kinoshita, NTT senior vice president, head of research and development planning, at the “NTT R&D FORUM 2024 − IOWN INTEGRAL” held from November 25th to 29th, 2024.

• Katsuhiko Kawazoe, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, NTT Corporation

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces NTT’s initiatives of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) for a global sustainable society. It is based on the keynote speech given by Katsuhiko Kawazoe, NTT senior executive vice president and chief technology officer, at the “NTT R&D FORUM 2024 - IOWN INTEGRAL” held from November 25th to 29th, 2024.

Regular Articles

• 5G Throughput-prediction Technology for 28-GHz Channels Using Physical-space Information

  

  Abstract
  Advances in wireless communications, such as the 5th-generation mobile communication system (5G), have enabled a wide variety of devices to be connected to wireless networks. In 6G, all physical entities will be connected to wireless networks, and their physical-space information, such as position and velocity, will be available for new mobile services. NTT’s Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) will accelerate to obtain the physical-space information from various sensors. Therefore, mobile traffic is growing rapidly toward 6G. The use of the millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands is promising to increase the capacity of mobile networks. However, the mmWave link quality (LQ) is strongly affected by surrounding objects. To stably use mmWave bands, an effective solution is to predict future LQ and adaptively control wireless communication. This article introduces 5G throughput-prediction technology that is based on deep neural networks using physical-space information and an automated 5G measurement environment using humanoid robots for deep-learning evaluations.

Global Standardization Activities

• Standardization Trends of Automated Intelligent Management for Access Systems in the Broadband Forum

  

  Abstract
  To reduce operational costs in future access systems, research and development aimed at automating the network management and control by network operators is advancing. This article outlines the standardization of automated intelligent management for access systems within the Broadband Forum, highlighting the content that has been standardized thus far and providing an outlook on future developments.

Information

• Report on NTT R&D FORUM 2024 - IOWN INTEGRAL

  

  Abstract
  The “NTT R&D FORUM 2024 - IOWN INTEGRAL” was held from November 25th to 29th, 2024. This article presents an overview of the Forum.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

• External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings