Japan’s Technological Development and Monetization Challenges for Beyond 5G: IOWN initiative and commercializing environmental technologies

Abstract

The development of Beyond 5G (6G) technology has begun, with Japan focusing on NTT Group's IOWN initiative, which integrates photonic and electronic technologies to create an all-optical network. This next-generation communication platform aims to achieve ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency, and energy efficiency. In 4G and 5G, it was often difficult to deliver customer-perceived value due to either exceeding user needs or failing to make high speeds tangible. Beyond 5G, however, emphasizes low power consumption as a critical feature directly addressing environmental issues. This focus could serve as a competitive edge not only in technological standardization but also in business standardization. This article explores the business potential of all-optical network technologies, such as photonic-electronic integrated semiconductors, with reference to other environmental technology examples.