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Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 71–77, Apr. 2020. https://doi.org/10.53829/ntr202004in1

Event Report: Tsukuba Forum 2019

Tomoyuki Nomura, Yusuke Koshikiya, Motoharu Sasaki, and Ikuko Takagi

Abstract

Tsukuba Forum 2019 was held on October 31 and November 1. The theme of the forum was “Supporting the present, shaping the new era—World-leading technology for creating services and field front-line technology for transforming operation/maintenance.” This article gives a brief overview of the speeches and exhibits presented at the forum.

Keywords: Tsukuba Forum, overview of speeches, overview of exhibits

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1. Introduction

The main theme of Tsukuba Forum 2019 was “Supporting the present, shaping the new era—World-leading technology for creating services and field front-line technology for transforming operation/maintenance.” It was held with the intention of creating a smart world with NTT as Your Value Partner as it looks back on network access technologies that have supported society to date and pioneers new access networks of the future. In addition to NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories (AS Labs), 105 organizations, including co-hosting organizations and NTT Group companies (Table 1), participated. They introduced and exhibited the latest research and development (R&D) and technological trends.


Table 1. List of Tsukuba Forum 2019 exhibits.

2. Overview of speeches

The two keynote speeches were given at the Tsukuba International Congress Center on the first day. They were relayed from the main convention hall of Tsukuba International Congress Center to a venue at the NTT Tsukuba R&D Center. The speeches were received by a large audience.

2.1 Keynote speech 1

Mr. Motoyuki Ii, senior executive vice president and representative member of the Board of NTT, gave a speech titled “Towards Social Infrastructure Sharing” (Photo 1). For details, see the article in this issue [1].


Photo 1. Keynote speech delivered by Motoyuki Ii, senior executive vice president and representative member of the Board, NTT.

2.2 Keynote speech 2

Mr. Naoki Shibutani, senior executive vice president and representative director of NTT EAST, gave a speech titled “Shaping Prosperous Future through Regional Innovation” (Photo 2). For details, see the article in this issue [2].


Photo 2. Keynote speech delivered by Naoki Shibutani, senior executive vice president and representative director, NTT EAST.

3. Workshops

On the second day of Tsukuba Forum 2019, workshops were held at AS Labs. A business unit manager of NTT Advanced Technology and two project managers from AS Labs conducted the workshops (Photo 3).


Photo 3. Workshop leaders (from left to right: Kazuo Kitamura, business unit manager, NTT Advanced Technology; Minoru Tanaka, project manager, AS Labs; and Takeshi Onizawa, project manager, AS Labs ).

3.1 Workshop 1

Mr. Kazuo Kitamura, business unit manager of the AI and Robotics Business Headquarters, Robotics Solutions Business, NTT Advanced Technology Corporation, gave a lecture titled “WinActor Business Overview.”

Mr. Kitamura first gave an overview of WinActor. WinActor is a client PC (personal computer)-based robot process automation (RPA) tool developed by NTT research labs in 2010 with its unified management support system technology. It was commercialized by NTT Advanced Technology and released in 2014. As of the first half of 2019, over 4000 companies have adopted this software, giving it the largest RPA tool market share in Japan. Over 700 companies are currently sales partners of this software.

Next, Mr. Kitamura described WinActor’s three major features: simplicity, support, and scalability. New functions to strengthen the product and promote simplicity include a new service called Cast on Call, which provides ready-made scenarios for task automation, contour matching, and enhanced virtualization support. Version 7, slated for release in 2020, will feature a refreshed user interface (UI) and multilingual support. Mr. Kitamura also discussed personnel training to bolster support and gave examples of WinActor’s management functions and enhancements for achieving scalability. He argued that to further strengthen collaboration with work applications for digital transformation (DX), the key issues are how to migrate WinActor to the cloud and implement on-premise and cloud collaboration and how to use artificial intelligence (AI) in areas where human judgment is required, which is not stereotypical, thus considered an area RPA tools are poor at.

Finally, Mr. Kitamura stated that NTT Advanced Technology is further pursuing customer’s DX by increasing customer value when using WinActor together with all NTT’s partners through the Technology Partner Program established in July 2019.

3.2 Workshop 2

Mr. Minoru Tanaka, executive research engineer and supervisor of the Civil System Project, AS Labs, gave a lecture titled “R&D Trends in Technologies for Maintaining and Managing Telecommunication Infrastructures.” For details, see the article in this issue [3].

3.3 Workshop 3

Mr. Takeshi Onizawa, executive research engineer and executive manager of the Wireless Entrance Systems Project, AS Labs, gave a lecture titled “Wireless Systems Technologies for Present and Future Services.” For details, see the article in this issue [4].

4. Two-day events

4.1 30th Tsukuba Forum Exhibit

The evolution and the future of access network technologies were showcased. Changes through the eras and transformation of systems were exhibited. Some visitors viewed the exhibit nostalgically, and many said, “I could easily understand how things changed” (Photo 4).


Photo 4. 30th Tsukuba Forum Exhibit.

4.2 Panel discussion

Co-hosting organizations, NTT Group companies, and the NTT research labs united to introduce efforts and hold salon-style discussions on two themes: “Next-generation optical fiber cable technology” and “New wireless developments in the Reiwa era*.” The panelists introduced examples from different companies. Many attendees commented, “I learned a lot” and “It was extremely interesting” after listening to discussions about specific challenges for the future and different companies’ views (Photo 5).


Photo 5. Panel discussion.

4.3 Radio equipment supporting the local community and disaster preparedness

A video presentation on wireless facilities that support safe living in remote islands and mountain areas and prevent the isolation of affected areas during disasters was given.

4.4 Stamp rally

A digital stamp rally using smartphones was carried out for the third time at Tsukuba Forum 2019 to enable visitors to navigate throughout the exhibition hall of AS Labs. Those who gathered the seven stamps in the venue were awarded an original utility pole number tag. When the souvenir was handed to the participants, they remarked, “I look forward to this every year” and “I want to collect the utility pole number tag every year.”

* Reiwa is the name of the current Japanese imperial era, which began on 1 May 2019.

5. Overview of exhibits

In addition to exhibits from AS Labs, exhibits on the latest technologies of the co-hosting organizations and NTT Group companies were held (Photos 6 and 7).


Photo 6. Main hall.


Photo 7. Outdoor exhibits.

5.1 AS Labs

The exhibition area was divided into three zones in which a wide range of AS Labs’ R&D results were exhibited (Fig. 1). Recommended exhibits were marked and presented to attendees in an easy-to-understand manner (Photo 8).


Fig. 1. Overview of NTT exhibits.


Photo 8. NTT exhibition zone.

(1) Future access network

Optical and wireless technologies that will make future access networks a reality were introduced. Recommended exhibits included presentations of analog radio-over-fiber technology to accommodate high-frequency multi-band radio systems, the direction of technological development to achieve future access networks, protocol-free wavelength-management-control technology, and optical-fiber environment monitoring.

(2) Pioneering technologies

State-of-the-art technologies to develop future access networks for a smart world were introduced. A recommended exhibit showed the information and communication technology (ICT) transformation of a conduit management system.

(3) Supporting technologies

Cutting-edge technologies to support a safe and secure society and current access networks were introduced. Recommended exhibits included UI extension technology to easily enable external collaboration, Internet of Things (IoT) wireless communication technology that extends the Wi-Fi standard (IEEE802.11ah), rule-learning-based failure location estimation and response support AI, optimal control technology that reflects human intentions, optimal wiring route configuration technology to avoid cable congestion, wiring technology with tolerance for demand fluctuation and that does not require operation, automatic failure recovery technology with auto-configuration and auto-wiring, multi-layer network autonomous control technology, automated manhole inspection technology using drones, technology for obtaining absolute coordinates of underground facilities, technology to visualize load and technology for understanding the relationship between unbalanced loads and structural degradation, and technology for making reinforced-concrete manholes maintenance-free.

(4) Display of a model network

This exhibit visually introduced the overall picture of access network technologies in a physical sequence from an NTT facility building to the customer’s home.

5.2 Information & Telecommunications Engineering Association of Japan (ITEA)

This exhibit presented ITEA’s efforts to develop secure, safe, and reliable information communication infrastructure facilities. These efforts include maintaining the technology and know-how that have been cultivated thus far; building, maintaining, and improving the quality and efficiency of optical access networks; and promptly restoring facilities in the event of a major disaster.

5.3 Communication Line Products Association of Japan

The latest efforts and technologies of all the member companies were displayed. The technologies and products exhibited included optical and metal cables, connectors, and related components for outdoor facilities and technologies and products for datacenters and indoor facilities. Demonstrating safety considerations and diversity of needs, the offerings emphasized workability and drew the interest of many visitors.

5.4 Japan Telecommunications Equipment and Materials Manufacturers Cooperative Association (Zentsukyo)

With the slogan “Contributing to the development of an IoT society with reliable technologies and the art of manufacturing (monozukuri),” exhibitors belonging to Zentsukyo introduced their united efforts as an association to comprehend the expansion of the ICT market and environmental changes and respond to customers’ demands with a sense of urgency.

5.5 NTT Group

Through their exhibits, NTT Group companies demonstrated collaborations with business partners as Your Value Partner through business activities. As Your Value Partner, NTT seeks to achieve a smart society through R&D and the use of ICT platforms. The exhibits introduced the NTT Group’s latest technologies that contribute to solving social challenges.

5.6 Events of exhibiting companies

In the AS Labs main hall and in the outdoor venue, exhibiting companies gave demonstrations, which drew many visitors (Photo 9).


Photo 9. Events of exhibiting companies.

6. Conclusion

Tsukuba Forum 2019 was blessed with sunny weather on both days. It was a success, drawing about 9400 attendees, including many international visitors. They expressed great interest in the presentations of exhibiting companies, including the latest R&D and future trends of AS Labs. Visitor questionnaires were distributed, and the results indicated that 97% of customers achieved the purpose of their visit. Tsukuba Forum 2019 was a rich event that allowed NTT and participating organizations to share transformations in access networks through presentations of short-term efforts to support current access networks and pioneering medium and long-term efforts to create future access networks.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Information & Telecommunications Engineering Association of Japan, the Communication Line Products Association of Japan, and the Japan Telecommunications Equipment and Materials Manufacturers Cooperative Association (Zentsukyo) for their support of Tsukuba Forum 2019.

References

[1] M. Ii, “Working toward Sharing Social Infrastructure,” NTT Technical Review, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 27–34, 2020.
https://www.ntt-review.jp/archive/ntttechnical.php?contents=ntr202004fa5.html
[2] N. Shibutani, “Pioneering a Prosperous Future with Regional Innovations,” NTT Technical Review, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 35–42, 2020.
https://www.ntt-review.jp/archive/ntttechnical.php?contents=ntr202004fa6.html
[3] M. Tanaka, “Technical Trends in Infrastructure Maintenance Management,” NTT Technical Review, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 43–48, 2020.
https://www.ntt-review.jp/archive/ntttechnical.php?contents=ntr202004fa7.html
[4] T. Onizawa, “Wireless Systems Technologies for Present and Future Services,” NTT Technical Review, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 49–55, 2020.
https://www.ntt-review.jp/archive/ntttechnical.php?contents=ntr202004fa8.html

Trademark notes

All brand, product, and company/organization names that appear in this article are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Tomoyuki Nomura
Senior Research Engineer, Planning Section, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories.
He received a B.S. and M.E. from Waseda University, Tokyo. From 1996 to 1998 he taught access technology as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer in the Republic of Honduras. After that, he worked mainly on network service system development at NTT WEST and NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories. He has been with NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories since July 2017.
Yusuke Koshikiya
Senior Research Engineer, Planning Section, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories.
He received a B.E. and M.E. in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Waseda University, Tokyo, in 2001, 2003, and 2015. In 2003, he joined NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories. He has been engaged in research on optical fiber sensing and maintenance technologies for optical fiber networks. He is a member of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE). He was the recipient of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Lasers and Electro-Optics Society Japan Chapter Young Scientist Award and the Young Researcher’s Award from IEICE in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
Motoharu Sasaki
Research Engineer, Planning Section, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories.
He received a B.E. in engineering and an M.E. and Ph.D. in information science and electrical engineering from Kyushu University, Fukuoka, in 2007, 2009, and 2015. In 2009, he joined NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories. He has been engaged in research on propagation modeling for various wireless communication systems; propagation modeling of interference between mobile terminals for spectrum-sharing wireless-access systems, propagation modeling in very high frequency (VHF) bands for emergency wireless systems, and propagation modeling in high frequency bands for fifth-generation mobile wireless communication systems. He received the Young Researcher’s Award and the Best Paper Award from IEICE in 2013 and 2014, respectively. He received the Best Paper Award at the International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation (ISAP) and the Young Engineer Award from IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Japan Chapter in 2016. He also received the Young Researcher Award and the Excellent Paper Award from IEICE Technical Committee on Antennas and Propagation in 2012 and 2018, respectively. He is a member of IEEE.
Ikuko Takagi
Research Engineer, Planning Section, NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories.
She received a B.E. in engineering and an M.E. in information science and electrical engineering from Tokyo University of Science, in 2010 and 2012. In 2012, she joined NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories. She has been engaged in research on operational software for business efficiency.

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