NTT Corporation, in collaboration with Tokyo-based electronics giant Toshiba, is making strides in the development of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN). This effort has attracted more than 160 signatories. That’s because it has some of the most influential chip and server manufacturers in the world, not to mention tech titans like Google and Microsoft. Together, the partnership is committed to redefining the future of information and communications infrastructure using advanced optical technology.
Earlier this month, NTT announced another industry-first achievement— high-speed factory production. They reached this by leveraging a new optical and wireless network that is operated from a regional data center 300km away. This particular demo achieved that success with a relatively large time lag of 17 milliseconds. Specifically, it highlights the promise of IOWN in intelligent data processing and ubiquitous, intelligent communication.
IOWN’s Vision and Technological Advancements
The overall goal of IOWN is to change the electrical wiring in data centers and offices with optical connections. C. Sean Lawrence, an expert on the project, emphasized that data centers need a fundamental shift in thinking. He thinks that this shift is necessary for them to work well.
“The core idea is to move from electrical wiring to optical, inside data centers, between circuit boards in servers, between silicon packages on circuit boards, and eventually between the silicon die inside a package.” – C. Sean Lawrence
He further stated, “We need to think differently to overcome this,” indicating the challenges that lie ahead in implementing this groundbreaking technology.
IOWN released its roadmap last month, establishing a multi-phase plan. The second stage aims for a streamlined optical intercommunication between boards, then inter-chip links in 2028 and connections within chips themselves by 2032. This phased evolution will be pivotal to achieving faster data transfer rates and lowering system-wide latency in future generations of the systems.
Research and Development Contributions
Unlike the ambitious IOWN initiative, IOWN is very much aimed at commercial applications. In parallel, it is doing some important work to pave the way for the research & development of silicon photonics and optical packaging. Takasumi Tanabe, another instrumental figure in the initiative, commented on the intricacies at play at the device level.
“At the device level, some aspects are more challenging,” – Takasumi Tanabe
Yet for all that difficulty, Tanabe remained sanguine about the prospects for the next generation of photonic devices. He cautioned that a truly all-optical system may not be achievable given current device physics. There are still compelling applications where photonics will dramatically improve performance, especially applications that require low power, high bandwidth and low latency.
“Even so, I expect photonic devices to play an increasingly important role in the most critical parts of future systems, where low-power consumption, high bandwidth and low latency are required.” – Takasumi Tanabe
NTT’s determination to lead IOWN’s development underscores this with its collaboration with the world’s top players like U.S. semiconductor maker Broadcom. They are looking to have the second-generation Photonics-Electronic Converters (PEC) ready to commercialize by 2026. This milestone is another significant step forward in realizing the bold vision set forth by IOWN.
Industry Implications and Future Prospects
The potential impacts of IOWN’s breakthroughs reach further than only NTT and Toshiba. With a diverse membership that includes major players in the tech industry, IOWN stands poised to influence the future landscape of data centers globally.
Rubenstein points to a critical time for innovation in computing. This demand has only grown with the recent boom of artificial intelligence (AI).
“With the advent of AI,” Rubenstein adds, “Computing has returned to center of everything. If the AI boom slows, then the urgency will disappear. But if AI continues as it has done, in five years it will be much closer to that vision.” – Rubenstein
This increasing global pressure to find quicker, cheaper, more sustainable methods of data processing reinforces why IOWN’s work is so imperative today.