NTT Corporation and Toshiba have joined forces for a groundbreaking partnership. Their aim is to prevent data transmission lag, an ongoing issue known as latency. In a recent demonstration, the two companies showcased high-speed factory production capabilities via an optical and wireless network, controlled from a data center situated 300 kilometers away. This monumental accomplishment is an industry first, claims NTT.
Amid rapid technological advancements, the demand to improve data transmission speed has only increased. NTT has been actively promoting photonics as the cornerstone of a next-generation information and communications infrastructure, advocating for its potential to revolutionize how data is transmitted.
The latest developments in this partnership highlight the potential for optical communication to address current limitations in data centers and beyond.
Innovative Solutions to Lag
C. Sean Lawrence, the principal architect of the initiative, challenged everyone to think outside the box. He calls this approach necessary to break the current barriers to broadband data sharing.
“We need to think differently to overcome this,” – C. Sean Lawrence
NTT and Toshiba are partnering to transform data centers. Their goal is to supplant conventional electrical cabling with cutting-edge optical information and powering solutions, first internally within their operations then externally between devices. Lawrence elaborated on this vision, stating:
“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
Reimplementing this kind of pipeline can significantly cut down latency. It enhances performance in a majority of workloads particularly as the need for real-time data analysis continues to increase.
The Roadmap for Optical Communication
NTT’s equally ambitious roadmap sees multiple phases of optical communication technology integration. Iliad is focusing on commercialising its second-generation Photonic Electric Converter (PEC) with U.S. chipmaker Broadcom by 2026.
As head of the IOWN Development Office, Yosuke Aragane heads the development office and steers significant developments. NTT wants to establish a smooth movement of data across the globe, focused on next-generation photonics technology.
- Phase two will focus on optical communication between boards.
- Phase three will introduce inter-chip links by 2028.
- The final phase aims for intra-chip connections by 2032.
Even with the strides made in photonics, experts agree that hurdles still exist at the device level. Takasumi Tanabe, a former JETRO representative in San Francisco and professor of the faculty of policy management at Tokyo’s Keio University, admitted it’s a complicated matter.
Challenges Ahead
He noted that going all “all-optical” is an impractical approach given current technology. Even still, photonic devices are poised to be a critical component enabling future systems.
“At the device level, some aspects are more challenging,” – Takasumi Tanabe
This observation further underscores the importance of continued research and development in silicon photonics and optical packaging. They will have a huge role in NTT’s Integrated Optical Network (IOWN) initiative.
“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 IOWN initiative boasts over 160 members from various sectors, including chip manufacturers and major internet companies like Google and Microsoft. This unprecedented partnership represents a tremendous acknowledgment across industry of the need for breakthroughs in data transmission technologies.
Industry Impacts
Their current data transmission latency is only 17 milliseconds. According to industry leaders, we need to make additional improvements. Bigger, bolder ones are needed to adequately prepare for the demands of the future. The transformation from conventional fiber optic cables to advanced photonic technologies could significantly reduce energy consumption while improving overall system performance.
Although the current time lag in data transmission stands at a barely noticeable 17 milliseconds, industry leaders believe that further enhancements are essential to meet future demands. The transformation from conventional fiber optic cables to advanced photonic technologies could significantly reduce energy consumption while improving overall system performance.