Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation and KDDI Corporation signed a basic agreement to standardize the optical network field. The agreement is designed to standardize and promote the use of both companies’ strengths in optical networking technology. This includes their respective strengths in optical transmission technology and mobile network technology. The aim is to encourage open innovation with partners around the world and work towards standardization to spread innovative communication techniques around all-photonics networks around the world.
NTT and KDDI have long led the research and design of optical networks in Japan. The companies will collaborate on research and development of a high-capacity optical communication system for domestic backbone transmission lines.
Increasing the transmission capacity
In the Beyond 5G/6G era, society will become increasingly hungry for information. Therefore, a large amount of information processing is required. It is imperative to increase the transmission capacity and speed of information communication systems and reduce carbon emissions.
KDDI & NTT will create a high-capacity optical network that is sustainable to meet the challenges of Beyond 5G/6G. In addition, they will stimulate research and development of optical networks through open innovation, spread innovative communication technologies around the world and work towards standardization.
The agreement has three basic principles:
All-photonics systems, which transmit and process optical wavelength signals without the need for electrical processing and have low power consumption, have low latency and low power consumption.
2. Standardization of all photonics networks for mobile communication
Beyond 5G/6G will place new demands on mobile infrastructure. The two companies will advance the standardization of technology to apply the all-photonics network to mobile networks, and will connect the core network, including base stations and the edge and cloud data centers, to the all-photonics network for mobile communications.
After 5G/6G, society will need ICT resources that are not only highly reliable, but also increasing in size. Both companies will encourage standardization in the optical network control and monitoring technology they have developed to date.
KDDI & NTT want to contribute to the global community by helping to implement the all photonics network as a solid communication infrastructure.