October 2016 Vol. 14 No. 10

View from the Top

• Motoyuki Ii, Senior Executive Vice President, Senior Executive Manager of Corporate Sales Promotion Headquarters, NTT EAST

  

  Overview
  NTT EAST is boldly shifting its management resources to expand its scope of business based on a locally focused organizational system. The number of contracts for the optical access service involving the Hikari Collaboration Model topped 4 million in August 2016, and NTT EAST is aggressively pursuing initiatives for revitalizing regional economies under the banner of new business creation. We asked Senior Executive Vice President Motoyuki Ii to tell us about this major change in the corporate mindset and the actual efforts underway to make this change a reality.

Feature Articles: Initiatives for the Widespread Adoption of NetroSphere

• Accelerating the Demonstration and Adoption of NetroSphere

  

  Abstract
  The NTT Group aims to accelerate the transformation to a business-to-business-to-X (B2B2X) business model in response to changes in the telecommunication market. NetroSphere is the concept of a flexible and robust network that can cope with diverse and uncertain demand in the B2B2X model. The Feature Articles in this issue introduce the development of the network architecture and network systems technology that advance the materialization of the NetroSphere concept. It also touches on NetroSpherePIT and the global rollout to carriers and vendors as a collaborative program for accelerating the implementation of this concept.

• NetroSpherePIT: Demonstrations to Accelerate the Adoption of NetroSphere

  

  Abstract
  We constructed a demonstration experiment environment called NetroSpherePIT in order to materialize and visualize the NetroSphere concept, and we commenced demonstration experiments with various technologies required for its implementation. In this article, we explain one of the NetroSpherePIT demonstration experiments and the technical issues that were revealed in the experiment.

• New Access System Architecture (FASA)―Enabling Provision of Services Flexibly and Promptly

  

  Abstract
  Flexible Access System Architecture (FASA) is a new access system architecture that satisfies various requirements from service providers and end users and enables prompt provision of services. NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories materialized this architecture, created a list of functions to be modularized, and investigated common API (application programming interface) specifications using use cases and dynamic bandwidth assignment as an example. A white paper was created as a reference. This article introduces some of the main elements of the white paper.

• Network Control Technology to Realize the NetroSphere Concept

  

  Abstract
  NTT has announced its NetroSphere concept, which was developed with the objective of promptly, reliably, and economically supplying services required by network users and middle B operators (the second B in the B2B2X (business-to-business-to-X) business model). NTT Network Technology Laboratories is conducting research on network control technologies to respond to the needs of diverse middle B operators flexibly and efficiently and to provide high-quality services with the aim of achieving the NetroSphere concept. This article examines the progress of these initiatives.

• One-stop Operation Technology

  

  Abstract
  We introduce our one-stop operation technology that enables unified operation and maintenance of multiple operator networks and associated services (cloud and applications) for middle B operators in the B2B2X (business-to-business-to-X) business model.

• Promoting the MSF Architecture for Flexible Networks

  

  Abstract
  NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories is promoting Multi-Service Fabric (MSF), a network architecture that was announced in February 2015. This article describes some of the functional models that feature controllers and switches used in MSF. The research and development progress and the future outlook are also briefly explained.

• MAGONIA (DPB: Distributed Processing Base) Applied to a Traffic Congestion Prediction and Signal Control System

  

  Abstract
  High computational capacity and high fault tolerance are required in advanced social infrastructures such as future intelligent transportation systems and smart grids that collect and analyze large amounts of data in real time and then provide feedback. This article introduces application examples of the distributed processing technology of MAGONIA, a new server architecture (part of NetroSphere), in a traffic congestion prediction and signal control system, one of the social infrastructures currently under development at NTT DATA.

• MAGONIA (Soft Patch Panel): High-speed Inter-function Technique

  

  Abstract
  NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories is aiming to create a wide range of services by building a transport cloud enabling a combination of transport service functions to be provided. This requires that there be no function degradation between service functions. This article presents Soft Patch Panel (SPP), a high-speed inter-function technique developed in collaboration with Intel Corporation. SPP reduces communication delays between functions and makes it possible to combine a variety of service functions.

Regular Articles

• Spatial and Planar Optical Circuit (SPOC) Technology and Its Application to Photonic Network Devices

  

  Abstract
  Because photonic networks have evolved from point-to-point systems to ring or mesh networks, higher scalability is required in the devices used in optical nodes. Hybridization of waveguide and free-space optics or spatial and planar optical circuits (SPOCs) may provide the necessary solutions to meet this requirement. A SPOC platform is attractive because it can take advantage of both waveguide technology and free-space optics. Waveguide technology provides a high degree of integration of optical functionality for such devices as splitters and non-wavelength selective switches, while free-space optics supplies a high degree of parallelism with two-dimensional spatial light modulators such as liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) devices. In this article, we summarize the basics of SPOC technology and review its application to reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexing (ROADM) devices. The key element of a waveguide on a SPOC platform is the spatial beam transformer, which has the same circuit structure as an arrayed waveguide grating but functions as a microlens array and provides attractive features such as dense integration of switches. An LCOS device has numerous phase modulating pixels, enabling flexible manipulation of lightwaves. We used a SPOC platform to construct and demonstrate several types of wavelength selective switches for ROADM applications.

• Ethernet Private Line System with World’s Highest Quality (Bandwidth Guarantee, High Availability, and Low Delay)

  

  Abstract
  Virtual private networks and broadband Ethernet are increasingly being used as corporate wide area networks. Consequently, demand is growing for higher availability and lower delay in addition to the bandwidth guarantee and carrier-grade maintainability and operability of conventional digital private line systems. We describe here an Ethernet private line system that achieves the world’s highest level of quality to meet that demand.

Global Standardization Activities

• Activities of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity/Telecommunication Technology Committee BSG (Bridging the Standardization Gap) Working Group

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces the activities underway by the Telecommunication Technology Committee of Japan and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity to promote solutions that use information and communication technology to resolve social issues in rural areas of Southeast Asian countries.

Global Activities of NTT Group

• everis and the Next Generation of Digital

  

  Abstract
  The firm everis joined the NTT DATA family in January 2014 to achieve together a dream: become the global number one. Innovation and entrepreneurship have always been a must for us at everis, which has grown organically from 5 employees back in 1996 to more than 16,000 across 13 countries and 4 continents. In May 2014, we launched a strategy to lead the next wave of digital revolution beyond SMAC (social, mobile, analytics, and cloud) technologies and leverage the new CRAVIB (crowdsourcing, robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, Internet of Things, and blockchain) exponential technologies. Today, in the year of our 20th anniversary, we want to share the first outcomes of this strategy and its huge potential to contribute to NTT DATA and NTT’s global leadership.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Reviewing Inspection Methods for Efficient Operation and Maintenance of Steel Towers

  

  Abstract
  Regular maintenance of NTT facilities is necessary to ensure the provision of high-quality information and communication services. In this article, we review methods used to inspect steel towers. This is the thirty-seventh article in a series on telecommunication technologies. This contribution is from the Materials Engineering Group, Technical Assistance and Support Center, Maintenance and Service Operations Department, Network Business Headquarters, NTT EAST.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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