September 2026 Vol. 24 No. 9

View from the Top

• Takashi Ebihara, Executive Vice President, Head of Technology Planning, Chief Information Officer, and Co-Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, NTT, Inc.

  

  Abstract
  The Technology Planning Department at NTT operates under the guiding principle of “transforming from an organization that merely discusses technology into one that continuously converts technology into societal and business value.” Competition in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer about the superiority of individual technologies; instead, it is a contest based on the ability to design and keep orchestrating ecosystems. Takashi Ebihara, NTT executive vice president, head of technology planning, is leading the Department’s efforts to compete globally through real-world implementation of technology by leveraging NTT’s strengths as a full-stack enterprise for the AI era—offering everything from components to datacenters, networks, AI computing platforms, and solutions—and by evolving the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) into AIOWN, an AI-native infrastructure built on IOWN. We spoke with him about the Department’s focus areas and the mindset that guides it.

Front-line Researchers

• Hideki Yamamoto, Senior Distinguished Researcher, Basic Research Laboratories, NTT, Inc.

  

  Abstract
  Superconductivity—the complete disappearance of electrical resistance in materials when they are cooled below a critical temperature (T_c)—has fascinated scientists for more than a century. Raising T_c remains one of the greatest scientific challenges of the 21st century. Hideki Yamamoto, a senior distinguished researcher at NTT Basic Research Laboratories, is tackling this challenge by creating novel superconductors through NTT’s world-leading thin-film synthesis technologies. Together with his colleagues, he is pursuing the discovery of unprecedented high-temperature superconductors and uncovering the fundamental mechanisms behind their remarkable properties. Their work could pave the way toward a carbon-neutral future.

Rising Researchers

• Hajime Okamoto, Distinguished Researcher, Basic Research Laboratories, NTT, Inc.

  

  Abstract
  Researchers at NTT have created an energy-efficient optomechanical device capable of controlling light through vibration by integrating a light-emitting element into a microscopic mechanical resonator. They are currently researching ways to dramatically enhance the performance of the device and improve its functionality by using a novel approach that fuses the device with soft materials. Capable of sophisticated light control using mechanical vibration rather than electricity or magnetic fields, this device represents a revolutionary technological innovation for the next generation. We spoke with Distinguished Researcher Hajime Okamoto at NTT Basic Research Laboratories and a leading figure in the field of optomechanical devices.

Feature Articles: Remote Media Production Using the IOWN APN

• IOWN-related Technologies in Video Production

  

  Abstract
  With the advancement of various broadcast video production methods, such as remote and virtual production, there is a growing demand for communication environments capable of transmitting large volumes of data such as video and audio to remote locations with low latency. In this article, we focus on IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network)-related technologies, centered on the All-Photonics Network, and explain how to support digital transformation in video production.

• Efforts in Commercial Deployment of Remote Media Production Using the IOWN APN

  

  Abstract
  We have thus far used IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) technologies to conduct technology demonstrations and business feasibility verification for the commercial deployment of remote media production, and its use in commercial events has been progressing. In addition to an early technology demonstration, we introduce representative cases of collaboration between NTT research laboratories and operating companies, such as application to live broadcasts of music events and largescale sporting events, facility sharing at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and the use of distributed graphics processing units.

• Advancing the Global Expansion of IOWN through the IOWN Global Forum

  

  Abstract
  This article presents the IOWN Global Forum’s initiatives related to remote media production for the broadcasting industry, covering the entire process from challenge identification and use case development to proof-of-concept implementation and publication of evaluation results. It specifically focuses on the activities at the Use Case Working Group and Reference Implementation Model Task Force.

Regular Articles

• Co-creative and Technological Approaches to Reducing Dementia-related Stigma

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces two approaches aimed at eliminating prejudice against people living with dementia. One is a co-creation approach carried out jointly with high school students and individuals with dementia, and the other is a technological approach to addressing biases embedded in generative AI (artificial intelligence). We will continue investigating these approaches to help reduce prejudice and discrimination against social minorities.

Global Standardization Activities

• Report on the 38th Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Standardization Program Forum (ASTAP-38)

  

  Abstract
  The 38th Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Standardization Program Forum (ASTAP-38) was held from April 20 to 24, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand, in an in-person format. Similar to last year’s event, a hybrid participation format was prepared specifically for the industry workshop and plenary sessions. A total of 148 experts from 18 APT member countries and various organizations attended the forum. In addition to the regular standardization discussions, an industry workshop focusing on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies was held to share recent initiatives from the industrial sector. This article reports the outline and major outcomes of ASTAP-38.