December 2024 Vol. 22 No. 12

View from the Top

• Ryota Kitamura, Representative Member of the Board, President and CEO, NTT WEST

  

  Abstract
  Under the corporate slogan “Toward Tomorrow—with you, with ICT.”, NTT WEST continues to take on challenges for creating an exciting future and is striving to make local communities sustainable by creating new value as a value-creation partner. We spoke to Ryota Kitamura, president and chief executive officer of NTT WEST, about the company’s business environment and his aspirations for 2025.

Front-line Researchers

• Yasushi Takatori, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories

  

  Abstract
  Radio waves are used not only for telecommunications but also in many other fields such as broadcasting, radar, astronomical observation, and household appliances. They are a finite resource, and the frequencies used for each application are regulated due to the unique properties of radio waves such as interference. As communication speed and capacity rapidly increase, it is becoming necessary to effectively use allocated radio-wave resources and develop new radio-wave resources to be used for telecommunications. Meeting this necessity is also an urgent task for implementing the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), which uses optical and wireless technologies, and cooperative control of these two technologies is key to deliver network services that combine the IOWN All-Photonics Network and wireless systems. Yasushi Takatori, a senior distinguished researcher at NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories, is taking on the challenges of effectively using existing radio-wave resources and developing new radio-wave resources and optical-wireless cooperative technologies. We talked with him about his approach to development of radio-wave resources, the factors for bringing the results of application research into society, and his thoughts on taking all experiences as positive ones to achieve success.

Rising Researchers

• Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Distinguished Researcher, NTT Communication Science Laboratories

  

  Abstract
  The All-Photonics Network, a component of the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) concept, envisions a future in which large amounts of data will be collected. A low-latency All-Photonics Network will enable users to acquire the knowledge and information they need, even if they do not have the computational resources or data at hand, by providing high-speed access. NTT Distinguished Researcher Yasuhiro Fujiwara is pursuing high-speed and accurate data analysis technology rather than using approximate solutions. We spoke with him about the unchanging core of his research and the parts where he is flexible in studying the external environment and taking action.

Feature Articles: Network Architecture in the 6G/IOWN Era: Inclusive Core

• Network Architecture in the 6G/IOWN Era: Inclusive Core

  

  Abstract
  In the era of the 6th-generation mobile communication system (6G) and Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), it is assumed that four facets of convergence and coordination, namely, cyber space and physical space, computing and network, analog and digital, and mobile communication and fixed communication, will advance as communication services or the environment changes. This multifaceted convergence and coordination increases the need for end-to-end and seamless coordination of information processing and distribution across terminals, devices, networks, and applications. In this article, we introduce our research and development efforts in a network architecture for the 6G/IOWN era called the Inclusive Core, which is the foundation platform for achieving this multifaceted convergence and coordination.

• In-network Service Acceleration Platform (ISAP)

  

  Abstract
  In-network computing (INC) is a technology that frees users from the constraints of terminal performance and service environments by allowing the network to perform some of the computational processing that is conventionally processed by the terminal and cloud. This article describes the In-network Service Acceleration Platform (ISAP) proposed by NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories, which integrates INC and mobile networks.

• Self-sovereign Identity (SSI) Infrastructure for Reliable Identity Data Distribution in the 6G/IOWN Era

  

  Abstract
  The trend toward digital identity is accelerating, whereby user identity data are digitized in a standardized format so that they can be used by a wide variety of services. NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories is engaged in the research and development of the self-sovereign identity (SSI) infrastructure that enables the linkage of network services and digital identity as an elemental technology of the Inclusive Core, which is a network architecture for the era of 6G (6th-generation mobile communication system) and IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network). This article describes the trends related to digital identity and explains the SSI infrastructure, including the use case demonstration of applying it to the metaverse.

• Cooperative Infrastructure Platform to Accommodate Mission-critical CPS Services

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces the Cooperative Infrastructure Platform. We aim to establish this platform as a foundation for promoting social implementation of cyber-physical system (CPS) services, which hold promise for addressing various social challenges arising from factors such as population decline. In addition to the concept and overall architecture, we discuss the key technologies that contribute to mission-critical video transmission required for remote monitoring of Level 4 autonomous driving allowing for fully automated driving under specific conditions—a prime example of a CPS service use case. We also present the results of real-world demonstrations that integrate these technologies.

Global Standardization Activities

• Report of the Fifth Meeting of ITU-T Study Group 5 (Electromagnetic Field, Environment, Climate Action, Sustainable Digitalization, and Circular Economy) Held in Wroclaw, 17–21 June 2024

  

  Abstract
  The International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Study Group 5 (SG5): “EMF, environment, climate action, sustainable digitalization, and circular economy” aims to develop standards that contribute to enhancing the reliability of telecommunication services and reducing the environmental impact of business activities by protecting telecommunication facilities from electromagnetic interference and lightning surges, evaluating the impact of information and communication technology on climate change, and addressing issues surrounding a sustainable circular economy. This article reports on the deliberations of the fifth meeting of ITU-T SG5 held in Wroclaw, Poland 17–21 June 2024.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Case Study of Malfunction in Metallic Subscriber Loop Carrier Equipment

  

  Abstract
  This article presents a case study of malfunctions in a piece of metallic subscriber loop carrier equipment due to a switching surge and describes countermeasures against such malfunctions. This is the eighty-fifth article in a series on telecommunication technologies.

External Awards

• External Awards