March 2014 Vol. 12 No. 3

View from the Top

• Sadayuki Sakakibara, External Board Member of NTT, Chairman of the Board of Toray Industries, Inc.

  

  Overview
  Toray Industries, Inc. has been a long-term leader in the development of Japan’s world-class fiber technology. In our first View from the Top interview with an External Board Member of NTT, we sat down with Sadayuki Sakakibara (Chairman of the Board of Toray Industries, Inc.) to learn the secret to creating a succession of advanced, world-first technologies and to hear about management philosophy of looking ahead to next-generation strategies.

Feature Articles: Current Status of Technology Development Toward Energy-saving—For Continuous Telecommunications Infrastructure Connections 24/7

• Activities of Energy and Environment Technologies Committee to Improve Energy Efficiency

  

  Abstract
  The NTT Group is facing many challenges in the areas of energy and the environment, from the rapidly increasing cost of electrical power to various global environmental concerns. This article introduces some initiatives of the NTT Information Network Laboratory Group’s Energy and Environment Technologies Committee to realize a sustainable infrastructure that is able to continue providing safe and secure connectivity while adapting to future increases in traffic and power consumption.

• Power Supply and Air Conditioning Technologies for Sustainable Telecommunication Infrastructure

  

  Abstract
  Improving the energy efficiency of telecommunication equipment rooms and datacenters, which account for much of the power consumed in the NTT Group, is important for both the global environment and reducing electric power costs. This article describes recent discussions held by the Energy and Environment R&D (research and development) Committee and recent R&D on power supply and air conditioning technologies intended to achieve a sustainable telecommunication infrastructure.

• Energy-saving Technology of Air-conditioning Systems for Datacenters

  

  Abstract
  This article describes the features of two air-conditioning systems for datacenters developed by NTT Facilities. One is the FMACS-V (facilities multiunit air conditioning system-5th generation) hybrid, which received the 2012 Technology Award by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. The other is FTASCL-RS/C (facilities task cooler-rack shape/compressor-type), which received the 2012 Technology Prize from the Japan Society of Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers. An evaluation of the FMACS-V hybrid operated by NTT EAST is also briefly described.

• Smart Buildings: Conserving, Creating, and Storing Energy―the Smart Office Building Trial Project

  

  Abstract
  A project is underway to implement NTT Group research and development and various energy-conserving policies and systems in an office building to investigate their effectiveness in conserving energy, and to evaluate their usability in actual operation. In this article, we introduce the systems used in this trial and the practical results obtained thus far.

• Power-saving Technologies for Network Equipment and Their Application―ONU/wireless-LAN Sleep Technologies

  

  Abstract
  The amount of power consumed by equipment installed at various locations in the network is increasing with the spread of broadband services. In particular, a large amount of equipment is installed in user homes, and this home equipment accounts for most of the power consumed by the network. Reducing the power consumed by home network equipment is therefore becoming increasingly important considering the recent tightening of the electric power supply in Japan, as well as global warming concerns. This article introduces power-saving technology for in-home network equipment and power-saving technology for wireless local area networks.

• EMC Technology that Protects Network Equipment from Electromagnetic Problems

  

  Abstract
  NTT has prohibited the use of wireless devices in telecommunications equipment rooms to prevent interference from such devices causing serious equipment failures. However, there is a growing call to improve the efficiency of maintenance work in these rooms by establishing conditions for the safe use of wireless devices. Demand is also growing to make networks more resistant to natural disasters such as lightning, damage from which has been increasing in recent years. This article introduces our activities that address these issues.

Feature Articles: NTT Tsukuba Forum 2013 Workshop Lectures

• Trends in Optical Access Network Technologies

  

  Abstract
  The Second Promotional Project at NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories is focused on research and development of practical implementations of media network technologies. This article introduces the initiatives of the Second Promotional Project and the latest optical access network technologies. This Feature Article is based on a workshop presentation at the Tsukuba Forum 2013, held on October 18, 2013.

• R&D Efforts on Wireless Access Systems Toward Realization of Future Networks

  

  Abstract
  To actively support social and service environmental changes, NTT aims to comprehensively strengthen the competitiveness of network services. NTT has been investigating future networks that will provide users with the best user experience. This article introduces the research and development activities underway on wireless access systems. These efforts are being carried out with the goal of realizing future networks, and they include techniques to improve frequency utilization efficiency, reduce power consumption, and advance antennas/propagation, satellite communication systems, and wireless systems for disaster recovery.

• Structuring Future Access Network Systems

  

  Abstract
  The First Promotion Project initiated by NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories involves researching and developing optical access systems focusing on transmission devices. In this article, I introduce optical access transmission technologies that we have developed and also discuss a future optical access system that follows expected social and environmental changes.

Regular Articles

• Rapidly Deployable Phone Service to Counter Catastrophic Loss of Telecommunication Facilities

  

  Abstract
  In this article, we describe a phone service system that enables us to rapidly restore service even when the regular facilities for information and communications technology (ICT) services have been catastrophically damaged in a large-scale disaster. Deploying a movable ICT resource unit with IP-PBX (Internet protocol-based private branch exchange) functionality to the affected areas makes it possible to immediately provide IP phone services using Wi-Fi. Users are able to access phone services using their own smartphones and telephone numbers, which make the system convenient to use. We developed a prototype system and conducted subjective experiments with users. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed system.

Global Standardization Activities

• A Brief Overview of Network Functions Virtualisation

  

  Abstract
  Many network functions such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems have been implemented on specifically designed hardware. Today we are a seeing a technological trend in which these functions are being implemented as software running on general purpose servers. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute has established an Industry Specification Group (ISG) to discuss and define the requirements for Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV). This article introduces the concept of NFV and summarizes the activities of the NFV ISG.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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