– Toward efficient utilization of a new radio-communications resource between microwave and infrared light –

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: TOKUDA Hideyuki, Ph.D.) has developed a broadband and high-precision terahertz (THz) frequency counter based on a semiconductor-superlattice harmonic mixer. It showed a measurement uncertainty of less than 1 x 10-16 from 0.12 THz to 2.8 THz. This compact and easy-to-handle THz counter operating at room temperature suits for various THz applications supported by the next-generation ICT infrastructure, “Beyond 5G / 6G”.

- >120 nm signal bandwidth comprising 552 WDM channels and using both-doped fiber and Raman amplification -

Researchers from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: TOKUDA Hideyuki, Ph.D.), Network Research Institute, succeeded the first S, C and L-bands transmission over long-haul distances in a 4-core optical fiber with standard outer diameter (0.125 mm). The researchers, lead by Benjamin J. Puttnam, constructed a transmission system that makes full use of wavelength division multiplexing technology by combining different amplifier technologies, to achieve a transmission demonstration with date-rate of 319 terabits per second, over a distance of 3,001 km. Using a common comparison metric of optical fiber transmission the data-rate and distance produce of 957 petabits per second x km, is a world record for optical fibers with standard outer diameter.

Conclusion of the APOnet Memorandum of Understanding

NICT, along with ten other global leading-edge research and education networks in North America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, signed a memorandum of understanding to join the Asia Pacific Oceania network (APOnet) and collaboratively improve high-speed network services in the Asia Pacific Oceania region.

Looking into the future ICT through Local (Rural) 5G and Beyond 5G / 6G

The Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) will co-organize the Symposium on the Development of Frequency Resources 2021, under the theme of “Looking into the future ICT through Local (Rural) 5G and Beyond 5G / 6G” on July 9 at Meiji Kinenkan and on Zoom webinar.

- Succeeded in real-time visualization of packets flowing in the vast address space of IPv6 -

[Highlights]
・Integrated cyber attack analysis platform "NIRVANA Kai" newly supports IPv6 and enhances its functions.
・Observation of IPv6 communications, collection of IPv6-related alerts, and real-time visualization of IPv6 networks
・Expected to simplify security operations in IPv6 networks.

Keeping a daily gratitude journal for as little as two weeks can help keep students motivated for months

Our dynamically changing lifestyle can make it hard for many to stay motivated on work and study, which calls for new intervention strategies. In a recent study published in BMC Psychology, researchers explore how nurturing feelings of gratitude can enhance motivation among college students. Their results show that a keeping a daily gratitude journal for only two weeks has a positive impact on academic motivations that can last months.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: TOKUDA Hideyuki, Ph.D.) has released white papers on “Beyond 5G/6G” and “Quantum Network” to accelerate R&D collaboration with other research institutions. The white papers summarize the social vision and use cases that are expected to be realized through the progress of Beyond 5G/6G and quantum network technologies, as well as the key technologies and R&D roadmap necessary to realize them.

Aiming to incorporate quantum-safe cryptography into the quantum secure cloud technology and enable secure communication, storage, and use of data.

Tokyo - April 5, 2021 - Toppan Printing (Toppan) (TYO: 7911), a global leader in communication, security, packaging, décor materials, and electronics solutions, and Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have entered into an agreement to conduct joint research on bringing post-quantum public key cryptography to the quantum secure cloud technology.

~ NICT's optical ground station successfully received downlink light from DLR's small satellite-mounted optical terminal (OSIRISv1) ~

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: TOKUDA Hideyuki, Ph.D.) has conducted an international joint experiment with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) between the optical terminal (OSIRISv1) onboard the University of Stuttgart’s Flying Laptop satellite and NICT's optical ground station equipped with newly developed optical bench with fine-pointing system. In February 2021, success in receiving the downlink light from OSIRISv1 at NICT's optical ground station was achieved.

– Demonstrating radio wave propagation paths between any two points based on real-time space weather information –

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, President: TOKUDA Hideyuki, Ph.D.), in collaboration with Electronic Navigation Research Institute, National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology (ENRI, Director General: FUKUDA Yutaka) and Chiba University (President: TOKUHISA Takeshi), has started the service of shortwave propagation simulator (HF-START). It provides real-time shortwave propagation that reflects real space weather information from ground-based observations and model calculations. The HF-START web system has been successfully developed and is now available at https://hfstart.nict.go.jp/.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) confirmed that a bidirectional optical link was established between the laser-communication terminal for inter-satellite optical communications (Laser Utilizing Communication System: LUCAS*) aboard the Optical Data Relay Satellite (Fig. 1), which was launched by the H-IIA F-43 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center on November 29th, 2020, and the optical ground station at the Okinawa Electromagnetic Technology Center of NICT (Fig. 2).

- Toward space-terrestrial multilayered connected network in Beyond 5G era -

NICT released a report summarizing what was discussed in the "Study Group on the Integration of Satellite Communications and 5G/Beyond 5G" (August 2019 - February 2020) to study the effective use of integration of satellite communications and 5G/Beyond 5G, with the participation of domestic terrestrial communications providers, satellite communications providers, satellite-related manufacturers, potential users, universities, research institutes, and standardization bodies.

We released a new periodical "NICT REPORT 2021” (ebook/PDF).