WADA NaoyaDirector General, Advanced ICT Research InstituteJoined Communication Systems Lab-oratory (currently NICT) in 1996. Had engaged in reseach of photonic net-works and optical transportation system. Ph.D.(Engineering).Issues with Existing ICT in Coping with COVID-19 and Possible SolutionsTable Key ICTs needed to solve current issuesIssuesProblem-solving technologies (selected examples)Transmission capacity・Beyond-5G technology・Optical ber communications technology with space division multiplexing capabilitiesFlexibility and stabilityProgrammable network technologySafetyQuantum network technologyCT have been greatly benetting us by enabling us to maintain social and economic activities while coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, we have identied many issues with the ICT cur-rently used in remote working, online schooling and other online activities, such as transmission capacity, exibility, stability and safety. To re-solve these issues, NICT has been engaged in R&D activities to upgrade ICT (Table 1).Unlike conventional communications networks, beyond-5G/6G are expected to be convergence technologies of wireless and wired systems, i.e., wired and wireless conver-gence networks. The use of technology capable of seamless and direct conversion between op-tical signals and mmW / THz signals can in-crease the transmission capacity for networks by 100 times. However, effective use of this conversion requires a signicant increase in the capacity of optical ber networks used in the areas of heavy network trafc. NICT will adopt a space-division multiplexing optical network technology with multicore bers and multimode bers, both of which employ multi-ple channels to transmit optical signals. We will design these bers so that their outer diameters match those of existing single-channel optical bers. These technologies are expected to in-crease the capacity of access and core networks by hundreds to thousands of times. We will also adopt highly extendable optical ber net-works with extensive branching capabilities to substantially increase the transmission capacity of access networks, making them adequate for use in populated urban areas. In addition, the number of antennas to be used in these areas is expected to increase considerably. We will miniaturize optical devices and simplify optical transmission systems, thereby making the net-works workable with many of antennas.Furthermore, we will have been working on ICN/CCN technologies that can be used to fully exploit limited physical layer resources and achieve efcient content distribution in the network by avoiding congested routes and serv-ers. We have been developing a network auto-mation technology that automatically allocates and orchestrates network resources in response to requests from different applications. These technologies will provide more exible and sta-ble network services.Some people working remotely may need to exchange highly condential information via networks from time to time. Therefore, networks need to be more secure than ever. Quantum cryptography is currently the only encryption technique unbreakable by any type of computer, not even by quantum computers. We will use network technologies that employ quantum cryptography to securely protect con-dential information.Even if many of the issues associated with remote working are successfully resolved, we still have concern over the safety of many oth-er people who can not work remotely in places protected from COVID-19. It is therefore very important to develop technologies able to easily sterilize or disinfect areas potentially contam-inated with COVID-19. Much attention has been paid to sterilization technologies capable of killing viruses using deep-ultraviolet (DUV) light without touching any objects in the sur-rounding environment. Conventional DUV light sources, such as mercury and gas lamps, have several disadvantages: large, inefcient in energy use, expensive, non-durable and contain toxic substances, such as mercury. By contrast, the DUV (LEDs) are free of these and are able to easily eliminate viruses from potentially contaminated areas. The high-output-power DUV-LEDs by a NICT research team can pro-vide alternative DUV light sources with 265 nm emission—the most effective germicidal wavelength—and are also non-toxic to the en-vironment.NICT will continue to engage in advanced ICT R&D to make the everyday lives under the inuence of the COVID-19 outbreak safer and more comfortable.I7NICT NEWS 2020 No.6
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