April 2021 Vol. 19 No. 4

View from the Top

• Toshi Fujiwara, Senior Executive Vice President and Representative Director, NTT DATA

  

  Overview
  The spread of the novel coronavirus has brought about major changes in society. Now that remote life has become the norm, there is a growing need for supply chains that adapt to uncertain situations, safe and secure data linkage, and information technology infrastructure and security that support the changed business environment. The corporate philosophy of NTT DATA is to help contribute to a more affluent and harmonious society. We asked Toshi Fujiwara, senior executive vice president and representative director of NTT DATA, about the progress of the mid-term management plan and mindset of top management.

Front-line Researchers

• Seishi Takamura, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Media Intelligence Laboratories

  

  Overview
  With the spread of the Internet, video data are becoming ubiquitous in our daily lives. Video-coding technology supports the stress-free situation in which we can send, receive, and use high-quality video via television broadcasting and the Internet. The amount of data is expected to increase to 40 YB (yottabytes) around 2040 due to the diffusion and sophistication of Internet-of-Things sensors, and technologies that support such huge amounts of data are attracting much attention worldwide. We interviewed Seishi Takamura, a senior distinguished researcher at NTT Media Intelligence Laboratories, about a coding technology for fully using a huge amount of data and his attitude as a researcher.

Feature Articles: Keynote Speeches/Workshop Lectures at Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE

• NTT Group’s Initiatives for a Post-COVID-19 Society

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces NTT Group’s initiatives for a Post-COVID-19 society. The content of this article is based on a keynote speech presented by Jun Sawada, president and chief executive officer of NTT, at the Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE held October 29–30, 2020.

• Toward the Realization of Smart Regional Societies, “To Be the Social ICT Pioneer”

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces case studies on the effort that NTT WEST Group is making as a social ICT (information and communication technology) pioneer to address the issues of local communities and strengthen the connections between people and society to promote smart regional societies. This article is based on a keynote speech given by Ichiro Uehara, senior executive vice president of NTT WEST, at the Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE event held October 29–30, 2020.

• Activities Centered Around the Smart Infrastructure Platform

  

  Abstract
  The Smart Infrastructure (Smart Infra) Platform is a project NTT Infrastructure Network Corporation is advancing for improving the efficiency of infrastructure-facility work through digital transformation. We are developing digital twins that will provide high-accuracy position information (absolute position) of infrastructure facilities buried underground. By sharing digital information among infrastructure providers, we seek to implement a model in which tasks being done by workers to date are digitized and manpower is shared by unifying similar tasks. We are also aiming to add digital twins of aboveground facilities and expand the Smart Infra Platform to other fields such as disaster prevention/mitigation and smart cities. This article is based on a workshop lecture video-streamed on the Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE website in October/November 2020.

• R&D of Innovative Optical Transmission Line Technologies

  

  Abstract
  NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories is promoting research and development (R&D) on optical transmission line technologies necessary for the sustainable development of communications networks. In addition to R&D on such technologies for achieving efficient and sophisticated optical access networks, in 2019 we started R&D on innovative optical transmission line facilities toward implementation of the All-Photonics Network, which is one of the three key elements of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) advocated by NTT. This article, which is based on a workshop lecture video-streamed on the Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE website in October/November 2020, outlines the latest developments and future perspectives of optical transmission line technologies.

• Photonic Gateway and Related Optical Access Technologies to Achieve the All-Photonics Network

  

  Abstract
  We, members of Optical Access Systems Project of NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories, are engaging in the research and development of the Photonic Gateway to achieve low-latency optical access networks and the All-Photonics Network, an essential component of IOWN (the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network). This article, which is based on a workshop lecture video-streamed on the Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE website in October/November 2020, introduces technologies that use the optical characteristics, such as wavelength management and optical path aggregation, required for high-bandwidth, low-latency networks.

Regular Articles

• Progress in Multi-wavelength Receiver Integration with Arrayed Waveguide Gratings

  

  Abstract
  We describe the progress in integrated wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) photoreceivers that feature low-loss arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) for high-speed throughput of up to 100 Gbit/s and beyond. The design and assembly of optical coupling between higher-order multimode beams and a photodiode are essential to obtain a flat-top spectral shape. We developed 10- and 40-Gbit/s WDM photoreceivers by using mechanical and visual alignment, respectively. We also fabricated a 100-Gbit/s photoreceiver by using high-accurate active alignment. The AWGs and assembly concepts of WDM integration enable scaling up to 400-Gbit/s and beyond and are key to achieving the multi-wavelength All-Photonics Network.

Global Standardization Activities

• Report of the 4th Meeting of the APT Preparatory Group for WTSA-20

  

  Abstract
  In preparation for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) of the International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), the 4th meeting of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Preparatory Group for WTSA-20 (APT WTSA20-4) was held in an online conference from November 16 to 20, 2020. This article reports the results of APT WTSA20-4 and the schedule for the WTSA.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Novel Tool for Finding a Defective Field-assembly Connector in the Field

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces a novel tool for finding defective field-assembly connectors just after service personnel assembled them in the field. The tool uses multi-wavelength loss profiles to identify the defective connectors. This is the sixty-third article in a series on telecommunication technologies.

Information

• Event Report: Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE

  

  Abstract
  Tsukuba Forum 2020 ONLINE was held on October 29 and 30. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the event was not held at the NTT Tsukuba R&D Center (Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) as in previous years but online. The theme of the forum was “Supporting the smart world―Innovative technologies for the IOWN [Innovative Optical and Wireless Network] concept and advanced technologies for business growth.” This article gives a brief overview of the speeches and exhibits presented at the forum.

Short Reports

• Effective Compression of Quantum Braided Circuits Aided by ZX-Calculus

  

  Abstract
  

• First Successful Measurement of Neutron Energy Dependence of Semiconductor Soft Errors

  

  Abstract
  

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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