August 2020 Vol. 18 No. 8

Front-line Researchers

• Masaya Notomi, Senior Distinguished Scientist, Nanophotonics Center, NTT Basic Research Laboratories

  

  Overview
  In April 2020, NTT formulated a technology roadmap for implementing the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN). Photonic disaggregated computing, one of the key technologies that make up IOWN, is generating great interest as a new architecture that shifts from the conventional physical-server-oriented computing platform to a serverless computing platform based on photonic data planes. We asked Masaya Notomi, a senior distinguished scientist at the Nanophotonics Center of NTT Basic Research Laboratories conducting basic research on enabling photonic disaggregated computing, about his current research efforts and attitude as a researcher.

NTT Technology Report for Smart World

• Publication of NTT Technology Report for Smart World 2020

  

  Abstract
  NTT Research and Development Planning Department annually releases NTT Technology Report for Smart World, which presents 11 technologies that will transform technology into a natural presence and make the world smarter, and other leading-edge activities of NTT. It has now published the 2020 edition with new information added. This article presents an overview and the main updated points of the report.

Global Standardization Activities

• Standardization Activities for Optical Fiber and Cable Technology in International Electrotechnical Commission

  

  Abstract
  The International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee 86 (IEC TC 86) is a standards development organization that prepares and decides on international standards in relation to products used for optical fiber communication. In this article, we provide an overview of standardization activities, introduce topics discussed at meetings in 2019 and 2020, and describe the Japanese standardization strategy in IEC TC 86.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Snow-accretion-prevention Sheet for Outdoor Aerial Closure

  

  Abstract
  When snow accumulates on closures, it will repeatedly melt and freeze, gradually changing into solid blocks of ice. These ice blocks may fall from closures and damage vehicles below. This article introduces a snow-accretion-prevention sheet that enables snow to fall off closures before it forms ice blocks. This is the fifty-ninth article in a series on telecommunication technologies.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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